Around 2,000 ex-servicemen and their families celebrated their time in the Royal Air Force with a huge gathering at RAF Cosford near Wolverhampton.

Yesterday’s event saw guests who served with regiments across the country descend on the RAF Museum for parades, marching bands and a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in the form of a Dakota and escort.

And it brought together three generations of the same family who have all served with the air force.

Percy Woodhouse, aged 78, of Stirchley in Shropshire, joined his son wing commander Ian Woodhouse MBE, 52, and grandson, flying officer Paul Woodhouse, 25, for the celebrations. Mr Woodhouse senior carried the new standard of the National Service RAF Association, which was made this year. The association has been around for the last five years.

Mr Woodhouse, who served as a clerk when he was conscripted in 1948, said proudly: “To have my son and grandson as my escorts is something I could only dream of.”

Among the members were 101 representatives of the Cosford branch of the association. James Patterson, who went on to be a police detective, served as a corporal and was a drill instructor from 1950 to 1953. The 76-year-old, of Beech Gardens, Codsall, said: “There were plenty of people who did not like National Service but there are so many who remember it as the best years of their lives, which is why the association was formed.”

John Hallam was also a corporal and served at Digby in Licolnshire from 1950 to 1952.

He made sure the equipment functioned properly and records were in order.

The 76-year-old, of Langley Road, Merry Hill, said: “The camaraderie was what made it so special.”

The event first came to the Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford in 2004 and has grown in strength each subsequent year.