On This Day, 1940: On 5 September 1940, Bromide jamming was used operationally against German navigation beams, marking the practical beginning of…
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Dispatches, analysis, long reads and On This Day entries from The RAF Chronicle.
Last V1 Destroyed Over England Near Sittingbourne in 1945
On 29 March 1945, the final V1 to reach England was shot down near Sittingbourne, ending a notorious flying bomb threat to civilians.
Read the article →Bromide Jamming Marks the Start of British Electronic Warfare
On 5 September 1940, Bromide jamming was used operationally against German navigation beams, marking the practical beginning of…
Sergeant George Booth Becomes Britain’s First Prisoner of War
On 4 September 1939, Sergeant George Booth was captured after being shot down, becoming the first British prisoner…
The Air Ministry Between the Wars and Britain’s Air Strategy
How the Air Ministry tried to shape British air strategy between the wars, balancing doctrine, empire, economy and…
First London Air-Raid Alarm Sounds on Britain’s First Day of War
On 3 September 1939, London heard its first air-raid alarm of the war, showing how quickly Britain entered…
Valiant Flies Direct from Maine to RAF Marham in 1956
On 2 September 1956, a Vickers Valiant flew direct from Maine to RAF Marham, proving the range and…
Heligoland Bight and the End of RAF Daylight Assumptions
How the Battle of the Heligoland Bight exposed the weakness of RAF daylight bombing assumptions at the opening…
Germany Invades Poland and Opens the Air War in Europe
On 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland and opened the European war that would soon place the RAF…
Operation Cyclone Begins RAF Herbicide Spraying in Malaya
On 31 August 1953, Operation Cyclone began in Malaya, showing how the RAF was adapting helicopters and air…
303 Squadron Nears Operational Service in the Battle of Britain
By 30 August 1940, No. 303 (Polish) Squadron was nearing operational service and stood on the edge of…
Canberra Sets a New Height Record for the RAF in 1955
On 29 August 1955, an English Electric Canberra reached nearly 66,000 feet, reinforcing the aircraft’s reputation as one…
Flying Officer M. O. Berg Captured in Korean War, 1952
On 28 August 1952, Flying Officer M. O. Berg was shot down in a Meteor and captured, becoming…
Hudsons Force U-570 to Surrender South of Iceland, 1941
On 27 August 1941, Hudsons of No. 269 Squadron forced U-570 to surrender south of Iceland, an extraordinary…