Website: https://www.rafbf.org/
Charity #: 1081009 (England and Wales) and SC038109 (Scotland)
Previously Called:
- Royal Air Force Memorial Fund (1919-?)
- The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (?-Present)
Patrons
Patrons
- Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
- King Charles (2024-Present)
President
- Princess Marina, The Duchess of Kent (1943-1968)
- Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent (1969-Present)
Chair
- Prince George, The Duke of Kent (1941-1942)
Photo: SAC Ashley Shelley RAF/MOD, OGL v1.0OGL v1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Description
The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund was founded in 1919. The charity provides direct welfare assistance to those of the extended RAF Family in need or distress.
Memorials
RAF Memorial
By Arpingstone – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=337623
The charity was originally called the Royal Air Force Memorial Fund. One of it’s initial objectives was to build a memorial to those who died in the Air Force during WWI.
The memorial was unveiled on July 16th, 1923 by the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII).
Each year on September 15th (Battle of Britain Day), the Chief of the Air Staff places a wreath at the memorial.
RAF Bomber Command Memorial
Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial is a memorial commemorating the crews of RAF Bomber Command during WWII. The memorial was built by The RAF Bomber Command Association (BCA). The association was unable to afford the upkeep and maintenance. So, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund became the official guardian of the memorial.
The memorial, located in Green Park, London, on Piccadilly near Hyde Park Corner.
Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the memorial on 28 June 2012, the year of her Diamond Jubilee.
Also See:
The Lord Mayor’s Lord Big Curry Lunch, which raises funds for the charity. The lunch is attended most years by a member of the Royal Family.
