Christmas card from 26 Squadron, RFC, serving in East Africa, 1917

Christmas has been and continues to be marked by RAF stations and squadrons. This particular Christmas Card is significant as it was designed by 26 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps - the RAF's predecessor - while they were stationed in East Africa during the First World War.

No. 26 Squadron was formed at Netheravon on 8 October 1915 from personnel of the South African Air Corps. It was equipped with B.E.2s and Farmans and sent to East Africa in 1915, arriving in Mombasa at the end of January 1916. In February 1918 it was dispatched back to the UK where it was disbanded in July 1918. The squadron's badge featured the head of a Springbok, surrounded by the motto, ‘N Wagter in die Lug” - or "A Watcher in the Sky” in Afrikaans.