On This Day, 1940: On 22 July 1940, an RAF Blenheim used airborne interception radar to shoot down a Dornier Do 17…
Read the entry →Cold War Articles
In-depth articles, analysis and long reads from The RAF Chronicle.
Operation Mop Up: RAF Hunters Attack the Torrey Canyon
Cold War
On 28 March 1967, RAF Hunters joined Operation Mop Up, attacking the Torrey Canyon wreck as Britain tried to limit a major oil pollution disaster.
Read the article →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…
No. 1 Squadron Harriers Deploy to Belize with Victors
On 7 July 1977, six RAF Harrier GR.3s deployed to Belize with Victor tanker support, beginning a sustained…
Sunderlands Join the Berlin Airlift with Heavy Freight Runs
On 5 July 1948 RAF Sunderland flying boats began Berlin Airlift runs, using water access to carry heavy…
Sea Vixen Milestone as 892 Squadron Goes Operational
In early July 1959 892 Naval Air Squadron became the first Royal Navy unit to reach operational status…
Operation Vantage and RAF Airlift Defend Kuwait in 1961
On 1 July 1961 RAF transport and fighter support helped launch Operation Vantage, Britain’s rapid move to deter…
Berlin Airlift: RAF Air Mobility and Cold War Resolve
The Berlin Airlift showed how the RAF and its allies used sustained air mobility to hold West Berlin…
V-Force Stands Down as Polaris Assumes the Role in 1969
On 30 June 1969 the RAF’s V-force left the strategic deterrent role as Royal Navy Polaris submarines assumed…
No. 78 Wing RAAF Arrives at Luqa for Malta Air Defence
On 28 June 1952, No. 78 Wing RAAF reached Luqa with Vampire FB.9 fighters, reinforcing Commonwealth air defence…
Launch of the Berlin Airlift: RAF Operation Plainfare
On 26 June 1948 the RAF launched Operation Plainfare, helping sustain West Berlin by air in one of…
Korean War Begins: RAF Sunderlands Enter the Conflict
As the Korean War began on 25 June 1950, RAF Sunderland flying boats at Iwakuni entered blockade and…
617 Squadron Completes Non-Stop Vulcan Flight to Australia
No. 617 Squadron flew a Vulcan non-stop from Britain to Australia, showing the reach, planning and discipline behind…
Valiant to Cape Town: 214 Squadron’s Long-Range Flight
On 9 June 1959 214 Squadron flew a Vickers Valiant non-stop from the UK to Cape Town, demonstrating…