On This Day, 1940: On 5 September 1940, Bromide jamming was used operationally against German navigation beams, marking the practical beginning of…
Read the entry →Cold War Articles
In-depth articles, analysis and long reads from The RAF Chronicle.
RAF Aircraft Safety Systems and Crew Protection in Service
Cold War
How RAF aircraft safety systems improved crew survival through restraint, oxygen, warning, fire protection and ejection-seat design.
Read the article →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…
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…
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…
How the RAF’s Global Role Changed from Empire to Cold War
How the RAF moved from imperial policing and global garrisons to alliance strategy, deterrence and post-war overseas commitments.
RAF Sunderlands Confirmed off Korea’s West Coast, 1950
On 22 August 1950, the RAF confirmed Sunderland flying boats were operating off Korea, showing the continued value…
RAF and the Suez Crisis: Air Power and Humiliation
A deep RAF history of the 1956 Suez Crisis, from planning and air strikes to the political collapse…
RAF Fighter Power Beyond 1940: From Spitfire to Deterrence
How RAF fighter power evolved from wartime Spitfire defence into overseas presence, air control and Cold War deterrent…
V-Bomber Force Reduced to 144 Aircraft in Principle
On 1 August 1957, ministers confirmed a 144-aircraft V-bomber frontline force, reshaping Britain’s airborne nuclear deterrent.
Last Lincoln Leaves Kenya as RAF Bomber Detachment Ends
On 28 July 1955, No. 49 Squadron’s Lincoln detachment left Kenya, ending the bomber phase of RAF operations…
Phantom FGR.2s Reach Akrotiri During the Cyprus Crisis
On 23 July 1974, two RAF Phantom FGR.2s of No. 41 Squadron reached Akrotiri to support reconnaissance and…
RAF and the Berlin Crisis, 1948–49: Beyond the Airlift
How the RAF turned the Berlin crisis of 1948–49 into a test of access, air transport and Cold…