Stained glass window for Royal Auxiliary Air Force unveiled

A window design by Chad Kenney, a serving member of the Royal Air Force, was selected in a competition to commemorate 100 years of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF). Here, Wing Commander Howard Leader, of RAF Media & Communications, explains the history of the RAuxAF and how the design became a reality.

The year 2024 marks the centenary of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF), also known as the RAF Reserve. Established in 1924, the then Auxiliary Air Force (AAF) was the brainchild of Lord Trenchard, who believed that a RAF Reserve force was vitally important to the defence of Britian. He came up with the idea of training civilians to learn to fly bi-planes and be ready to support the RAF when called upon.

The AAF proved his point during World War II, when a quarter of the squadrons that fought in the Battle of Britain were from the AAF and accounted for a third of the combat victories.  The AAF squadrons then went on to fight in every theatre until the end of the war.

For their outstanding contribution, King George VI bestowed the prefix ‘Royal’ on their title. Today, the RAuxAF is as important to the RAF as ever, with volunteer reservists from all walks of civilian life bringing their own skills and experience to squadrons specialising in everything from medicine, media, intelligence, and even cyber and space.

To celebrate 100 years of the RAuxAF’s achievements, a competition was launched in January 2024 to find a design for a new stained glass window to occupy a place of pride in the famous RAF Club in Piccadilly, London.

Five emerging artists were shortlisted to produce a design for the large 2.4m x 0.9m window. Each artist was given a design fee and paired with an experienced stained glass mentor to develop their ideas. In April, a panel was convened to judge the submissions ‘blind’. One design stood out and everyone was surprised and delighted to learn that the artist who created it was actually a serving member of the Royal Air Force who was studying stained-glass window making as a hobby in his spare time.

That winning man is Air Specialist 1 Chad Kenney, an RAF Air Cartographer at the No 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit. This unit delivers aeronautical data used by the UK armed forces, its allies and civilians to inform operational decisions and improve safety in the air.

Commenting on the award, Chad said: “being a graphic designer in my spare time and having only designed one stained glass window, I couldn’t believe it when I was chosen, firstly as a finalist for the RAuxAF 100 competition and being assigned the extremely talented Deborah Lowe as a mentor, and, secondly, being chosen as the winner.

“Despite feeling a little out of my depth, I was excited by the task ahead and honoured, ultimately, to have my dedication next to the work of Helen Whittaker MBE in the Royal Air Force Club of all places!”

Chad’s design is a long window with the dates 1924 and 2024 prominent top and bottom, surrounded by images reflecting the work of the reservists between inception and this, the centenary year. These segments are separated by the central Badge of the RAuxAF with its motto Comitamur Ad Astra, which means ‘We go with them to the stars’. (The RAF motto is Per Ardua ad Astra, meaning ‘through adversity to the stars’).

Chad commented, “To do the RAuxAF justice, the detail was going to have to be immense! A mosaic style would not be enough, thus learning glass painting was a must. Luckily, my mentor taught me everything I needed to grow my confidence in this endangered craft.”

The ‘early’ period images include the Meteor aircraft flown by some RAuxAF squadrons, barrage balloons, which were operated by RAF Reserves during World War II, radar operators and other trades of the period. At the bottom of the window there are not only ‘modern’ references to flying trades, but to music, field catering, force protection and media.

Following a commemorative service at the RAF church St Clement Danes on 6 October 2024, HRH The Duke of Gloucester attended the RAF Club to unveil the stained glass window. The Duke is the Air Commodore in Chief of the RAuxAF and Patron of the RAuxAF Foundation. He is also president of the British Society of Master Glass Painters.

The ceremony was attended by Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff, and Air Vice Marshal Ranald Munro, Commandant General of the RAuxAF, himself a part time volunteer reserve.

Air Vice Marshal Munro stated, “This is a fantastic piece of work and a fitting tribute to the thousands of men and women who, over the last 100 years, have served the RAF as part time volunteer reserves. It is even more special knowing that the window was designed and made by a serving member of the RAF who studies stained glass window work in his spare time.”

Chad’s mentor, Deborah Lowe, was at the unveiling. She said, “This has been a fascinating project to be involved with and I have suddenly found a new fascination with the shapes and textures of aircraft, which I might experiment with myself!”

There is one final detail of note that is typical of Chad’s thinking. He included an image in the window of Sergeant Cathy Sharples, the photographer from RAF Media Reserves, who covered the development of this window from the start. Cathy documented the whole project, through progress visits to Chad’s workshop up to the unveiling of the finished window at the RAF club by HRH The Duke of Gloucester. She is representing one of the contemporary RAF Reserves trades. This was nice touch by Chad and he caught her likeness very well.

The window is situated in the 601 Squadron room at the RAF Club and will be much admired by members and visitors for years to come.

The author of this piece, Wing Commander Howard Leader QVRM VR ALCM, is based at RAF Media & Commuications, HQ Air Command in Buckinghamshire.

Main feature image: Chad Kenney discusses details of the window he designed and made with HRH The Duke of Gloucester (right).

All images: Crown Copyright.