Definition: The Royal Air Force (RAF) is a branch of the British military that was established in 1948 to provide air support for Allied forces during World War II, also known as the Second World War. It is responsible for providing air transport, intelligence, and surveillance services to allied nations. The RAF has over 5,000 people based at a total of 63 bases across the United Kingdom and overseas. The RAF consists of two branches: the Fighter Command (FC) and the Reconnaissance Command (RC). The FC provides fighter aircraft for air combat operations, while the RC is responsible for ground support and intelligence activities. The RAF also has several other services such as Bomber Command, which provided special operations missions during World War II, and the Civil Air Patrol, a group of volunteers who provide emergency rescue and search-and-rescue services for aviation accidents.