Local MP catches up with RAF100 baton at Number 10
The St Athan made RAF100 Baton was part of 10 Downing Street’s celebration of the Centenary of the Royal Air Force last week.
The Baton, made to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the RAF, left St Athan last month and has travelled around the UK to remind the nation of the impact that the Airforce has had over the last 100 years.
The RAF100 Baton was designed and built by apprentices at No. 4 School of Technical Training at MoD St Athan, formerly RAF St Athan and has winged its way to Number 10 Downing Street.
The winning design for the baton was chosen in light of its creative symbolism. The top of the baton is angled at 22 degrees which represents Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader’s 22 aerial victories during the Second World War. Also, the No. 4 School of Technical Training is part of the RAF’s 22 Group.
The RAF badge is engraved on the cap which unscrews and the baton contains a message from HM The Queen to the personnel of the RAF. The construction using brass, wood, aluminium, steel and carbon aerofoil wing cross-sections, symbolises aircraft construction through the ages. And there are 8 blue LEDs that represent the 8 Lancaster bombers that failed to return from the Dambusters raid in 1943. The Sopwith Camel, Spitfire and F-35B Lightening II are etched below the RAF100 logo. Engraved around the bottom of the brass end cap is “Per ardua ad astra” (“Through adversity to stars”) the motto of the RAF.
Mr Cairns said of the event
“I was delighted to be able to hold such a stunning piece of Welsh engineering in the grounds of Number 10. The baton is beautifully engineered and I am very proud that it was designed and built in the Vale. The design cleverly symbolises different phases in aircraft construction as well as the RAF.
The RAF have served our nation for 100 years and I hope this fantastic baton will still be here to celebrate their next centenary.”