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 →Second World War Articles
In-depth articles, analysis and long reads from The RAF Chronicle.
London’s Children Leave the Capital as the Blitz Intensifies
Second World War
By 18 October 1940, nearly half a million schoolchildren had left London's evacuation areas as Luftwaffe bombing drove families to seek safety.
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…
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…
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…
RAF Hudsons Bring Down a Dornier Do 18 over the North Sea
On 8 October 1939, No. 224 Squadron Hudsons destroyed a Dornier Do 18, the first German aircraft brought…
Archie McKellar’s Battle of Britain Ace-in-a-Day Feat
On 7 October 1940, Hurricane pilot Archie McKellar of 605 Squadron was credited with five Bf 109 victories…
How the Dowding System Worked in Britain’s Air Defence
How the Dowding system linked radar, observers, plotting rooms and fighter control to direct RAF interceptions during the…
Battle of Britain Enters Its Final Phase of Night Raids
On 6 October 1940, the Battle of Britain entered its final phase as Luftwaffe attacks shifted from daylight…
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…
Luftwaffe Suffers Heavy Losses in Major Raids on London
On 27 September 1940, major Luftwaffe raids on London brought one of the Battle of Britain’s costliest days…
Skua Downs First Luftwaffe Aircraft Lost Against Britain
On 26 September 1939, a Blackburn Skua from HMS Ark Royal downed a Dornier Do 18 in early…
Heston Flight Forms for Photo Reconnaissance, 1939
On 23 September 1939, the Heston Flight formed as Fighter Command's first dedicated photographic reconnaissance unit.
The Spitfire Beyond 1940 and Its Enduring RAF Wartime Role
Why the Spitfire remained central to RAF operations after 1940 through adaptation, varied roles and continued service across…