Advanced Air Striking Force

The RAF Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF) comprised the light bombers of 1 GroupRAF Bomber Command, which took part in the Battle of France during the Second World War. Before hostilities began, it had been agreed between the United Kingdom and France that in case of war, the short-range aircraft of Bomber Command would move to French airfields to operate against targets in Nazi Germany. The AASF was formed on 24 August 1939 from the ten squadrons of Fairey Battle light bombers of 1 Group under the command of Air Vice-MarshalPatrick Playfair and was dispatched to airfields in the Rheims area on 2 September 1939.