Please also remember the ground crew and ground staff on and off the airfields.
My father was proud to serve as an LAC RAFVR i/c one barrage balloon, including defence of Coventry in the Blitz. Then after three years flying it over Suez, he spent 1944 with it on a ship, including D Day shuttles.
"It is ROYAL AIR FORCE, not RAF, and NEVER NEVER raff!"
Yes Dad!
RIP