On This Day, 1988: Sheila Scott died on 20 October 1988, leaving a legacy of solo world flights, polar exploration and record-breaking…
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Dispatches, analysis, long reads and On This Day entries from The RAF Chronicle.
Coastal Command White Camouflage for Maritime Patrols
On 10 August 1941, RAF Coastal Command introduced white camouflage on maritime patrol aircraft, refining anti-submarine work against U-boats.
Read the article →Dowding and Fighter Command’s Defensive System, 1936–1940
Hugh Dowding prepared Fighter Command for the Battle of Britain by integrating radar, control, communications and modern fighters…
Sheila Scott Dies After a Record-breaking Flying Career
Sheila Scott died on 20 October 1988, leaving a legacy of solo world flights, polar exploration and record-breaking…
William Ellis Newton Awarded a Posthumous Victoria Cross
William Ellis Newton received a posthumous Victoria Cross for his RAAF attacks at Salamaua, announced by the Air…
London’s Children Leave the Capital as the Blitz Intensifies
By 18 October 1940, nearly half a million schoolchildren had left London's evacuation areas as Luftwaffe bombing drove…
29 Squadron Begins Phantom Air Defence over Stanley
On 17 October 1982, No. 29 Squadron's first Phantom FGR2s arrived at RAF Stanley, beginning the RAF's post-war…
Nicky Smith Becomes the RAF’s First Female Helicopter Pilot
On 16 October 1992, Nicky Smith graduated at RAF Shawbury as the RAF’s first female helicopter pilot, marking…
Handley Page Victor Retires from RAF Service
On 15 October 1993, the Handley Page Victor retired from the RAF after 36 years, ending a career…
Canberra Aries IV Begins Its North Pole Jet Flight
Canberra Aries IV flew over the North Pole on 14–15 October 1954, demonstrating RAF jet navigation on a…
From V-Force to Polaris: Why Britain Moved the Deterrent to Sea
Why Britain transferred its strategic nuclear deterrent from RAF V-bombers to Polaris submarines, from the Skybolt crisis to…
First Poseidon MRA1 Lands at RAF Lossiemouth
On 13 October 2020, City of Elgin became the first Poseidon to land at RAF Lossiemouth, establishing the…
Operation Manna: British Paratroops Land at Megara
On 12 October 1944, British paratroops landed at Megara in Operation Manna, carried by USAAF aircraft as Allied…
Valiant Conducts Britain’s First Air-dropped Atomic Test
On 11 October 1956, a Valiant of No. 49 Squadron dropped a live Blue Danube atomic bomb at…