Royal Air Force Music Services is based at RAF Northolt

RAF Northolt

RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...

 (previously at RAF Uxbridge

RAF Uxbridge

RAF Uxbridge was a Royal Air Force station in Uxbridge within the London Borough of Hillingdon. Its grounds covered originally belonging to the Hillingdon House estate, which was purchased by the British Government in 1915, three years before the founding of the RAF...

) and RAF Cranwell

RAF Cranwell

RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. It is currently commanded by Group Captain Dave Waddington...

, and forms the central administration of one hundred and seventy musicians divided between the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, The Band of the Royal Air Force College, The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment

The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment

The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment is based at RAF Cranwell, and is one of three established bands in the Royal Air Force.-History:Originally formed from the Coastal Command Band in 1942 at RAF Belton Park, the band is now administered by RAF Music Services...

 and Headquarters Music Services. These main military bands contain within their ranks the Royal Air Force Squadronnaires, Royal Air Force Swing Wing, Royal Air Force Shades of Blue, and The Salon Orchestra of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force.

Royal Air Force Music Services' primary role is to provide musical support to Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

 and related charity events worldwide thus enhancing the public perception of the Royal Air Force as a whole. However, the Royal Air Force's musicians also undertake operational roles both as individuals and as a unit. From the concert stage to operational theatres around the globe Royal Air Force Musicians perform to the highest traditions of the Service in whichever role they are asked to fulfil.

The RAF Music Services' Principal Director of Music is Wing Commander

Wing Commander (rank)

Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...

 Duncan Stubbs.

History

With the establishment of the Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

 in 1918, Dr Walford Davies was invited to become the RAF's first Organising Director of Music. Davies established the RAF School of Music and wrote the Royal Air Force March Past

Royal Air Force March Past

The "Royal Air Force March Past" is the official march of the Royal Air Force and is used in some other Commonwealth air forces.The original score was completed by Sir 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...

. With the end of the War many RAF musicians were demobilized and Walford Davies left the Service in 1919.