of Britain’ Banquet Honoring the 2025 Outstanding USAF and RAF Exchange Officers with the Presentation of the RAFMAF Swords of Honor and ‘One Called, Many Came’ – the 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain: saluting the international pilots that flew with the ‘Few’ Wednesday 22nd October 2025 Grand Ballroom, The Mayflower Hotel, Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D.C.
A trusted partner to the warfighter Copyright © 2024 BAE Systems. All rights reserved. BAE SYSTEMS is a registered trademark.
4 6 8 9 10 15 16 19 20 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Major General (Ret.) Larry Martin USAF, Chairman, RAFMAF AIR CHIEF MARSHAL HARV SMYTH CB OBE DFC MA, Chief of the Air Staff, RAF 21 THE START OF A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP The origins of the USAF/RAF Military Personnel Exchange Program 22 THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION SWORDS OF HONOR Recognizing the most outstanding RAF and USAF officers on exchange this year 23 SWORDS OF HONOR 2025 CITATIONS Flight Lieutenant Simon Ridley RAF and Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Nastal USAF 26 JAMES HOLLAND A profile of this award-winning historian, one of tonight’s guest speakers 28 THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: ONE CALLED, MANY CAME How pilots from around the world, including many Americans, helped to protect Britain from aerial attack 30 THE MILLIONAIRES’ SQUADRON The story of the RAF’s 601 Squadron, which was active during the Battle of Britain and included the first two Americans to fly in the war 32 TOGETHER IN REMEMBRANCE How a project to install memorial plaques is ensuring US pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain are not forgotten FLIGHT LIEUTENANT CARL ‘RAY’ DAVIS DFC The story of a belated presentation of wartime campaign medals COLONEL JAINA L. DONBERG A profile of the Deputy Commander of USAF’s 4th Fighter Wing, one of tonight’s guest speakers “FOURTH, BUT FIRST” – THE ORIGINS OF 4TH FIGHTER WING The story of the fighter unit known today for flying the F-15E Strike Eagle THE AIR FORCE MUSEUM FOUNDATION: A PROUD PARTNER How the Foundation ensures the United States’ military aviation heritage is preserved and shared THE ALLIES’ SPY IN THE SKY Recalling the RAF’s wartime Photographic Reconnaissance Unit THE RADAR SYSTEM THAT WON THE “WIZARD WAR” How an innovative radar station network was instrumental in winning the Battle of Britain RAF MUSEUM REVIEW Including an update on ambitious plans for the Museum’s Midlands site RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 3
values and history Major General (Ret.) Larry Martin USAF, Chairman, Royal Air Force Museum American Foundation (RAFMAF) of freedom in a spirit of close cooperation and understanding. That spirit is as relevant today as it was 85 years ago. Every year, the Foundation recognises the close association between the services by presenting two ceremonial Swords of Honor to the RAF and USAF Exchange Officers whose contributions have most reflected the values shared by our services, our veterans and the Foundation: Service, Excellence, Integrity and Courage. In 2009, the Foundation established its annual ‘Spirit of the Battle of Britain’ banquet in Washington DC, coinciding with the RAF’s Exchange Officers Conference. Over the years we have had the privilege of hosting Battle of Britain veterans and, last year, OUR THEME, ‘ONE CALLED, MANY CAME’, reflects the spirit of international cooperation personified by airmen from many nations who answered ‘the call’ to fly with their RAF counterparts in 1940 during the Battle of Britain. Joining those who came from the Commonwealth and across occupied Europe were American pilots who broke US neutrality laws to join the Battle. Their bold action forged a relationship between the RAF and international air forces that exists today, especially with the U.S. Air Force. Founded in 2002, the Royal Air Force Museum American Foundation (RAFMAF) celebrates the shared values that unite the fighting air and space men and women of the United States and the United Kingdom. In war and in peace, the Royal Air Force and the air forces of the United States have stood together to defeat the enemies At last year’s RAF Museum Christmas reception, RAFMAF’s chairman and directors presented a cheque for $1.5 million to facilitate education initiatives RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 4
the opportunity to honour and remember these veterans, to celebrate today’s outstanding leaders building strong relationships, and to encourage young leaders to continue this necessary work. To date, 29 Swords of Honor have been presented to serving RAF and USAF officers by their respective Chiefs. The roll of honor can be found at our website: www.rafmaf.com General Atomics MQ-1B Predator on display at the RAF Museum in Hendon, on loan from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio school visits and enable education workshops for young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. RAFMAF also supports several key exhibits, including P51 Mustang ‘Donald Duck’, Charles Lindbergh’s Miles Mohawk and the Sikorsky MH 53 Pave Low. We also secured the loan of the General Atomics MQ1B Predator unmanned aerial vehicle from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. We sincerely thank our sponsors and donors, who help us celebrate the shared values and history of our combined forces. Together, they allow RAFMAF to inspire the next generation of fighting airmen, airwomen and guardians. SUPPORTING EDUCATION PROJECTS The Foundation’s philanthropic work has continued despite some economic challenges over the past few years. Last year, we made a donation of $1.5 million to the RAF Museum to facilitate its education initiatives. A further donation was made earlier this year to support the Museum’s regeneration project, which will increase its capacity to accommodate RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 5
Harv Smyth CB OBE DFC MA, Chief of the Air Staff, RAF 2025 MARKS THE 85TH ANNIVERSARY OF the first decisive battle in history fought entirely in the air – the Battle of Britain. Sadly, this year also commemorates the first time where the exploits of the ‘Few’ is no longer a lived experience. Although we mourn the passing of Group Captain ‘Paddy’ Hemingway earlier this year, the last of the ‘Few,’ we will continue to honour their memory and talk about the bravery and sacrifice of everyone involved in this critical battle for a long time to come. The Battle of Britain was a key moment in British history and a turning point of the Second World War. Without the ‘Few,’ the war could have ended very differently, but they were far from alone – they were ably supported by ‘The Many.’ The ceaseless effort and commitment of our ground crew and support staff matched those of the aircrew. Moreover, it was not just British personnel who defended our skies: in fact, 15 nations fought and died for our freedom during the Battle of Britain. The Battle was an international affair with our US allies ably supporting us in our time of need. Recently, I had the distinct honour to present lost medals to the family of one of the US pilots who fought in the Battle. Flight Lieutenant Carl ‘Ray’ Davis DFC – an American who broke the neutrality rules to fly and fight with 601 Squadron – would pay the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We are eternally grateful for the endeavours of Ray and his peers from home and abroad who gave their everything to secure our today. Beyond the warfighters, we also honour the collective national effort across the population, from scientists inventing the world’s first radar network to the thousands of people working in factories and across industry to supply the aircraft and equipment so desperately needed at the front line. ‘The Many,’ not just the ‘Few,’ won the Battle of Britain. Warfare is a team game. The Battle of Britain’s relevance is not limited to those few weeks in the summer of 1940. Today, over the skies of Eastern Europe and the Middle East, air and space power sets the conditions for how war unfolds and remains fundamental for our future defence needs, and those of our allies. There is no stronger ally than the United States of America; the collaboration between the RAF and USAF plays a crucial role in our collective ability to deter and, if needed, defeat aggressors in a dangerous era. Our special relationship across the air and space domains enables our agility, integration, and readiness to fly, fight and win, today and tomorrow. Lest we forget everyone who sacrificed everything for our nations’ future; and long may we remember the enduring and relevant lessons of this momentous battle. RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 6
7
special relationship The origins of the USAF/RAF Military Personnel Exchange Program, which continues to enhance mutual understanding between the two Air Forces IN JUNE 1917, AS THE UNITED STATES entered the First World War, a young, recently graduated cadet crossed the Atlantic to begin training with the US Army Signal Corps Aviation Division. On arriving in the UK, Lieutenant Joseph Payden began additional final training at Oxford University with the ‘American Aviation Detachment’. On completion, he was posted to France as part of the independent Air Force to fly Sopwith Camels for the Royal Flying Corps and, after its formation, the RAF. Although hundreds would follow in Payden’s footsteps at the outbreak of the Second World War, before the US had entered the confl ict, it would be a further 10 years before an official Exchange Officers program was established. In 1946, in his ‘Cold War’ speech, Winston Churchill articulated the need for an exchange of personnel in order to glean mutual understanding: “squadrons would be trained and prepared in their own countries, but would move around in rotation from one country to another. They would wear the uniform of their own countries, but with different badges. They would not be required to act against their own nation.” Five years later, the USAF/RAF Military Personnel Exchange Program was created, formalising the trails blazed by the Americans who came to fly with the RAF in both 1917 and 1940. Participation in the Military Personnel Exchange Program is on a selective basis, with the parent air force solely responsible for the selection of its Military Exchange Personnel. To be considered for an exchange post an individual must be well-versed in current practices, technical training and doctrine of their organization, and be particularly qualified through experience for the exchange position to be occupied. The individual must have demonstrated capabilities for future positions of greater responsibility and must possess the grade, skill, training, and academic qualifications that are described in the applicable position description. Churchill’s visionary speech of “intimate relations between our military advisers, leading to common study of potential dangers, the similarity of weapons and manuals of instructions, and to the interchange of officers and cadets” remains valid and will do so for many years into the future. Lieutenant Joseph Payden’s service with the Royal Air Force during the First World War was a forerunner of the USAF/RAF Military Personnel Exchange Program RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 8
Each year the RAF Museum American Foundation recognizes the contribution of Exchange Officers from either side of the Atlantic IN 2009, THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM American Foundation (RAFMAF) presented the first annual Sword of Honor to the Royal Air Force (RAF) Officer on exchange with the United States Air Force (USAF) who has contributed most in the previous year to relations between our two nations and their air forces. In 2012, another Sword was added to recognize the most outstanding USAF Officer on exchange with the RAF. The formal presentation of these swords at RAFMAF’s ‘Spirit of the Battle of Britain’ Banquet in Washington, D.C. provides the opportunity to publicly thank Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth CB OBE DFC MA, Chief of Staff of the RAF, for his and the RAF’s continued help in the Foundation’s efforts to preserve the heritage of USAF and the RAF by keeping it alive in the memories of our two nations. It is RAFMAF’s privilege and pleasure to continue to honor and recognize the continued close association between our active-duty militaries by presenting two ceremonial Swords of Honor to the top RAF and USAF Exchange Officers whose contributions have most reflected the values that our veterans, and the Foundation, share: Service, Excellence, Integrity and Courage. It is these values that we honor in our young women and men of today and encourage in the young people of tomorrow. Since the presentation of the first Sword, the Foundation has honored 29 RAF and USAF Exchange Officers to recognise their contributions to the spirit of collaboration and cooperation between our two air forces. Lt Col Christopher Nastal USAF and Flt Lt Simon Ridley RAF have continued that great work and become the 30th and 31st worthy recipients to symbolize the excellence of Exchange Officers on both sides of the Atlantic. With the help of its sponsors, the Foundation will continue to keep our combined and shared histories of air power alive as we look forward to celebrating the unique achievements of the 2026 Sword of Honor winners at next year’s banquet. www.rafmaf.com The 2024 Swords of Honor recipients – Squadron Leader Alex Gledhill RAF (left) and Major Austin J Baker USAF (above) – are presented with their awards by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Royal Air Force, and Frank Kendall, Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, at last year’s banquet RAF MUSEUM AMERICAN FOUNDATION 9
Fleepit Digital © 2021