The Royal Air Force is set to mark its 90th birthday in April with a year long series of events beginning with the unveiling of a Green Plaque in honour of its illustrious history in Westminster.

The plaque will take pride of place on the facade of 80 Strand, once London's largest hotel, where the RAF had its first headquarters in 1918.

Three fanfare trumpeters and the Queen's Colour carried by a Flight Lieutenant with two Escorts will mark the unveiling of the plaque by the chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy. It will become Westminster's 75th commemorative Green Plaque, set up by Westminster City Council to celebrate the richness and cultural diversity of the city.

David Forsyth, project coordinator and MOD civilian from the RAF's Directorate of Air Staff, said:

"Amazing progress has been made in just 90 years since we were born. Those early service men and women would be astounded by today's modern technology - jets, rockets, GPS guided missiles and unmanned aircraft. But it all began with string, wood, canvas, a primitive engine and an idea that air power was not just for dreamers".

Rosemarie MacQueen, Westminster City Council's Director of Planning and City Development, said:

"The RAF's history will forever be intertwined with that of Westminster, so it is important to mark the Force's creation. Our Green Plaque is a fitting tribute to proud service, that will add yet another point of interest in the city."

The RAF was born just nine years after the first officially recognised aeroplane flight in Britain, under the pressures and demands of the First World War, which provided a forcing ground for experiment and practice in new technologies of aviation. It was first established in 1918 by merging the Royal Naval Air Service, formed in 1912, with the Royal Flying Corps, formed in 1914. Lord Rothermere became the Force's first Secretary of State and President of the Air Council.

The RAF vacated 80 Strand in late 1919 for offices in nearby Kingsway. When the RAF moved out the site was developed by Shell BP. All except the north block of the original hotel building was demolished, and although Shell moved out in the 90s, the art deco building still bears the name Shell Mex House.

Ever since its creation, the RAF has performed a significant role in Britain's military history, playing a major part in World War II and in more recent conflicts.

At the same time as the unveiling, a full regimental parade of 61 Royal Air Force Association Standards will march from Lincoln's Inn Fields to St Clement Danes, at the top of The Strand, to take part in the RAF's annual remembrance service, which will follow the unveiling.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The plaque will be privately sponsored. It will be unveiled at 10.25 am on Sunday 30 March during a ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor. The unveiling will be followed by the RAF's annual memorial service at St Clement Danes Church.

The RAF is the air component of the United Kingdom's Armed Forces. The other Services are the Royal Navy and British Army.

The RAF is celebrating its 90th anniversary throughout the year. On 1 April at 1pm, the Royal Air Force Red Arrows will fly in formation with 4 Typhoon aircraft along the River Thames to the London Eye.

The first officially recognised aeroplane flight in Britain was performed on 16 October 1908 by American Samuel Franklin Cody. The bamboo and canvas biplane deployed, know as British Army Aeroplane No1, travelled a distance of 1,390 feet.

The Green Plaque scheme complements a number of Council strategies such as improving the legibility and understanding of Westminster's heritage and social history, providing accessible educational tools to raise awareness and understanding of local areas, providing information for Westminster's visitors and celebrating the richness and diversity of Westminster's former residents.

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