As an eight-year-old, my late father-in-law watched the Battle of Britain unfold in the skies over the south of England—an air battle waged for the very survival of the nation. Inspired by this boyhood experience, he entered the Royal Air Force (RAF), eventually rising to the rank of Squadron Leader. Yet, in 2018, with the nation celebrating the RAF’s illustrious past and its centenary in April, pressure is building that could threaten its very survival.