1989 was the 50th anniversary year of RAF Benson, the airforce base in Oxfordshire. The highlight of the year was the selection of the station as the venue for the presentation of the Colour to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force by The Queen, their Air Commodore-in-Chief. Her Majesty, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, is pictured standing on the dais for the Royal Salute followed by a flypast of aircraft of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.