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Celebrating the women of the RAF: Past, present, and future

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On International Women's Day, we'd like to celebrate the countless women of the Royal Air Force – those serving on the frontline today and those who served in previous years.

The theme this year is #ChoosetoChallenge and over the years, the pioneering women of the WRAF, WAAF and RAF have inspired others and challenged stereotypes. Fund supporter Kirsty Murphy became the first female Red Arrows pilot in 2009, and now flies with the Blades Aerobatic Team, one of the Fund's valued partners.

Hannah Brooking

In a bid to challenge leadership stereotypes and celebrate women in leadership roles across aerospace industry, Kirsty will lead a panel discussion from 6pm on The Blades' Facebook page. The panel, made up of women from across 2Excel Aviation and the RAF Benevolent Fund, will discuss a number of topics that matter to young people thinking about, or entering, the aviation sector.

Dr Hannah Brooking, Welfare Research Executive at the RAF Benevolent Fund, will be taking part in the panel event. She says: "It's an honour to be invited to speak at today's panel alongside a trailblazer like Kirsty. It is crucial that we educate and engage the next generation of women considering a career in the aviation sector.

"As lead researcher at the RAF Benevolent Fund, I continually develop the Fund's welfare research function. This work ensures we have an acute, evidence-based insight into the size, shape and needs of the RAF Family, which in turn helps inform the Fund's programme of welfare services and initiatives."

Last year, on the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, we paid homage to the women of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force who worked on radar during the Second World War in a special light show tribute at a former Battle of Britain radar site.

By shining a light on their important contribution to the war effort, we were also able to get more RAF veterans back on the radar and accessing the support they need. Did your mum or someone you know serve in the WAAF or RAF?

If you know any RAF veterans or personnel or their partners in need of support, you can refer them to the Fund online or by calling 0300 102 1919.