On 31 March, 1921, the formation of the 'Australian Air Force' was officially gazetted by the Government of the time. The word 'Royal' was duly added five months down the track and the RAAF was born.

Eighty-one years later, Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Angus Houston, helped mark the Air Force's birthday by paying tribute to its achievements, both past and present, at a cocktail party at RAAF Base Fairbairn on 9 April.

AIRMSHL Houston explained, in 1921 the Air Force comprised 151 personnel and 164 aircraft.

'This was the last time we had more aircraft than people,' AIRMSHL Houston laughed.

'From these humble beginnings, airmen and airwomen of the RAAF have consistently achieved and maintained the highest professional standards,' he said.

AIRMSHL Houston described the operational success and excellence the Air Force had provided in four major wars, numerous smaller conflicts, peacekeeping operations and hundreds of humanitarian, aeromedical and SAR operations.

Sadly, though, many paid with their lives.

A tragic example of this sacrifice were the losses suffered by the Australian crews of RAF Bomber Command, who comprised just two per cent of the Australians enlisted in WWII, yet accounted for 20 per cent of deaths in combat of all Aussies across the three services.

The Royal Australian Air Force's No.460 Squadron alone lost 1018 crew.

'Against an establishment of about 200, this means the whole unit was wiped out five times over,' AIRMSHL Houston said.

He stressed that the service, sacrifice and values demonstrated by these great Australians was an inspiration to the current generation of Air Force personnel.

Today, he explained, the Air Force continued to place a heavy emphasis on the same values of dedication, selflessness, professional excellence, teamwork and courage.

'I am always uplifted when I talk to the people of the Air Force,' he said.

'I can assure you that we are still producing the best from our training system and achieving superior levels of excellence in the conduct and support of operations.'

AIRMSHL Houston highlighted the excellent work done by No.77 Squadron in Diego Garcia earlier this year and said No.3 Squadron was continuing where 77SQN left off.

He also paid tribute to the people of No.84 Wing Detachment, No.6 Hospital, No.92 Wing maritime patrol, and the RAAF's Airlifters, who have flown to every corner of the globe in support of operations.

By Ben Caddaye