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 →Formation Interwar Articles
In-depth articles, analysis and long reads from The RAF Chronicle.
RFC Monoplane Ban Shapes Early Military Aviation Policy
Formation & Interwar
On 12 September 1912, the War Office banned RFC pilots from flying monoplanes, showing how safety and institutional caution shaped early military aviation.
Read the article →Naval Officers Begin Flying Training at Eastchurch
On 2 March 1911, four Royal Navy officers began flying training at Eastchurch, an early step in bringing…
First Operational Radar Aircraft Detection Trial Conducted
On 26 February 1935, Britain carried out an early radar aircraft-detection trial, a key step towards the air-defence…
RAF Operations Against Zeidi Tribes Begin in Aden Colony
On 21 February 1928, RAF operations began against Zeidi tribes in Aden, illustrating the inter-war use of air…
Bert Hinkler Departs England for Australia
On 7 February 1928, Bert Hinkler left England on a pioneering solo flight to Australia, highlighting the potential…
Royal Air Force College Opens at Cranwell
On 5 February 1920, Royal Air Force College Cranwell opened to train future RAF officers, marking a major…
The RAF’s First ‘Little War’ Begins in Somaliland
On 21 January 1920, RAF aircraft began operations in British Somaliland in one of the service's earliest colonial…
No. 30 Squadron Attacks Kurdish Horsemen near Muan, 1931
On 6 January 1931, aircraft of No. 30 Squadron RAF continued operations near Muan in northern Iraq during…