Th RAF, London
Posted by: 
Team Sieni
N 51° 30.613 W 000° 07.310
30U E 699718 N 5710492
Plaque commemorating the formation of the Royal Air Force, on the 1st April 1918.
Waymark Code: WMC6N5
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/01/2011
Views: 15
80, The Strand was, in 1918, the location of the Hotel Cecil, which had been requisitioned for the war effort.
It was here that the RAF was formed, as an amalgamation of the flying arms of the Royal Navy and Army. The hotel served as headquarters until 1919, when senior staff moved to Kingsway. more information
Oddly, the unveling of the plaque itself is commemorated by a smaller plaque
The plaque reads
ROYAL AIR FORCE
The Royal Air Force was formed and had its first heaadquarters here in the former Hotel Cecil 1st April 1918.
Through adversity to the stars.
I wonder why the motto was presented in English, rather than the usual Latin "Per ardua ad astra".
The smaller plaque below reads
This plaque was unveiled by the chief of the air staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Glen Torphy KCB CBE DSO ADC to mark the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force.