The "Royal Air Force March Past" is the official march of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and is used in some other Commonwealth air forces, such as the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The original score was completed by Walford Davies in 1918 for the new RAF. It combined the rhythm of the bugle call of the Royal Flying Corps with that of the Royal Naval Air Service. The call appears in both the introduction and the coda. It was originally known as the Adastral I (in reference to the RAF's motto). The second part of the march past, the trio, was composed by Sir George Dyson.[1]
The march can be played both as a slow march and a quick march, and has been used as both when the King's Colour Squadron and RAF bands perform public duties such as mounting the guard at Buckingham Palace.
- ^ Spicer, Paul (21 May 2019). Sir George Dyson: His Life and Music. Boydell & Brewer Ltd. ISBN 9781843839033. Retrieved 21 May 2019 – via Google Books.