History

The Royal Air Force has had pipers playing, at least unofficially, since its inception. On the left is the earliest known RAF piper's uniform. The uniform is preserved by the Scottish United Services Museum in Edinburgh Castle. King George V granted permission for the RAF to wear Grey Douglas in 1937. Although never adopted by pipers in the RAF this tartan is worn by 2622 Sqn Band today.

Voluntary Bands have a firm tradition in the RAF going back virtually to the formation of the Service and provided the basis upon which such prestigious bands as the RAF Central Band were formed. RAF music, now internationally famous, developed from a wide range of semi-official corps of drums, brass bands, military bands and pipe bands. Photographs of pipers from as early as 1922 can be seen in the book Customs and Traditions of the Royal Air Force by Squadron Leader P G Herring.

Photographs of the various RAF pipe bands from over the years can be seen on RAF Halton Pipes and Drums archive section of their website.