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Music In The Air – Published in 1986
Music in the Air Book by Ian Kendrick
Music In The Air was the first official and complete history of the Royal Air Force Music Services to be published.

In 1977, the Organising Director of Music, Wing Commander Roy Davies, asked me to write a short history of the RAF Music Services. This would be in the form of a PR handout that could be given in response to the regular requests that the HQ unit received for this information.

After questioning senior serving and retired musicians in and around Uxbridge, two pages of A4 paper were quickly produced with a condensed outline of how the Music Services had evolved. It showed that the branch has a fascinating history with some very well-known names involved. Musicians such as Dennis Brain, Steve Race, George Chisholm, Dennis Matthews, Kenny Baker, and many more had all served in RAF bands.

I was appointed Branch Historian as a secondary duty, and spent several years tracing and interviewing ex-RAF musicians. Generally, their reminiscences were recorded on tape before being transcribed onto paper later. As the material built up, it was realised that there would soon be enough for a book, and that to include memories and anecdotes in their verbatim form would bring the story to life.

The book was written and just about to go to print in 1985 when the terrible coach crash of the RAF Germany Band occurred. The book launch was postponed, and a year later an updated version of the book that included both the accident and also the rebuilding of the RAF Germany Band was printed and released.

Since then, research has continued with a view to updating and expanding the history.

The origins of the Royal Air Force roundel come from the First World War. The need to be able to identify aircraft soon became apparent and orders were issued at the end of August 1914 for the Union Flag to be painted on the under-surface of the lower wings. This was satisfactory at low level but was confusing when the aircraft was higher as only the cross was visible. This was often mistaken for a German cross so the French system of concentric circles was adopted in October 1914. The main differences between the French and British systems was that the colours were reversed to read blue, white and red and the Union Flag was retained in miniature between the circles and the wing tips. This miniaturised Union Flag was also painted on the rudder.Music In The Air – the book
In 1986, the book, Music In The Air, was published telling the story dating back to 1918. The author, Ian Kendrick, was a serving RAF Director of Music, and the book was launched at a major reunion of serving and ex-RAF musicians. Following this reunion, the RAF Music Services Association (MuSA) was formed.

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....The Band of the Royal Air Force of Oman. The RAFO Band has very close links with the RAF Music Services as it has been trained mainly by serving and ex-RAF musicians. Ian Kendrick was Director of Music for twenty years, firstly on loan service and then as a contract member of RAFO. He arrived when the Band comprised fifty young Arabs at a very early stage in their development. When he left, the band numbered 165 including a concert/parade band, a Corps of Drums, two Pipe bands, a Fanfare Party, an Arabic (traditional) Music Group, an Arabic Pop Group, and an Arabic (traditional) Dance Team.
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