American Toby Jug Museum 

Airman teapot produced by Artone Pottery of Burslem, England, circa 1980. The Airman is a serviceman in England's Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the oldest independent air force in the world, formed on April 1, 1918. The RAF has taken a significant role in British military history since then, playing a large part in World War II. A defining period came during the Battle of Britain, when it held off the German Luftwaffe and helped to turn the tide of the war. The largest RAF effort during the war was the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. During the Cold War, the RAF's main role was the defense of the continent of Europe against potential attack by the Soviet Union. Since the end of the Cold War, several large-scale operations have been undertaken, including the Kosovo war and the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.