On This Day, 1988: Sheila Scott died on 20 October 1988, leaving a legacy of solo world flights, polar exploration and record-breaking…
Read the entry →Cold War Articles
In-depth articles, analysis and long reads from The RAF Chronicle.
RAF Deploys to Sharjah During the Buraimi Dispute in 1952
Cold War
On 15 September 1952, the RAF deployed to Sharjah during the Buraimi dispute, showing the Service’s continued role in reinforcement and deterrence in the Gulf.
Read the article →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…
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…
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…
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…
10 Squadron Reforms for Duty in the Berlin Airlift
On 4 October 1948, 10 Squadron reformed at RAF Oakington for the Berlin Airlift, later flying from RAF…
RAF Final Cod War Sortie in the 1973 Iceland Dispute
The RAF’s final Cod War sortie on 3 October 1973 marked the end of Britain’s aerial fishery-protection role…
RAF and the Decline of Flying Boats: Why a Maritime Era Ended
From Southampton cruises to Sunderland patrols, Berlin and Korea, explore why RAF flying boats gave way to land-based…
Vulcan XA897 Crash Near Heathrow and the Risks of Early V-Force
On 1 October 1956, Vulcan XA897 crashed near Heathrow, killing four crew and exposing the hazards of the…
Swift Sets New World Air Speed Record at Tripoli, 1953
On 25 September 1953, Michael Lithgow flew a Supermarine Swift to a new world air speed record at…
Ark Royal Leaves Plymouth for Disposal, 22 September 1980
On 22 September 1980, HMS Ark Royal sailed from Plymouth for disposal, marking the end of Britain's final…
RAF Hercules Fleet Reaches 500,000 Flying Hours at Lyneham
On 18 September 1978, a flypast at RAF Lyneham marked 500,000 hours for the RAF Hercules fleet, a…