On This Day, 1939: On 21 October 1939, 46 Squadron Hurricanes intercepted Heinkel He 115 floatplanes over the North Sea in the…
Read the entry →Second World War Articles
In-depth articles, analysis and long reads from The RAF Chronicle.
John Dering Nettleton VC Reported Missing After Turin Raid
Second World War
On 12/13 July 1943 Acting Wing Commander John Dering Nettleton VC failed to return from a No. 44 Squadron raid on Turin.
Read the article →British and Commonwealth forces in Singapore surrender
On 15 February 1942, British and Commonwealth forces surrendered at Singapore, ending the Malayan campaign and exposing RAF…
A Coastal Command Hudson Locates the Altmark
On 14 February 1940, an RAF Coastal Command Lockheed Hudson located the German ship Altmark, helping set up…
RAF Bomber Command Begins the Dresden Raids
On 13 February 1945, RAF Bomber Command began the Dresden raids with a major night attack on one…
Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde Awarded the Victoria Cross
On 12 February 1942, Eugene Esmonde was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for leading a torpedo attack during…
The RAF Short Stirling’s First Combat Operation
On 11 February 1941, the RAF Short Stirling flew its first combat mission when No. 7 Squadron joined…
RAF Speed Achievement by No. 111 Squadron
On 10 February 1938, No. 111 Squadron’s J. W. Gillan flew a Hawker Hurricane at remarkable speed, showcasing…
“Black Friday” – The Banff Strike Wing Attack at Førde Fjord
On 9 February 1945, RAF Banff Strike Wing attacked German ships at Førde Fjord, suffering heavy losses in…
Two RAF Lancasters Collide Over the Netherlands
On 8 February 1945, two RAF Lancaster bombers collided over the Netherlands after a Dortmund–Ems Canal raid, killing…
The Mediterranean Air Command Formed in the Second World War
On 2 February 1943, the Mediterranean Air Command was created under Arthur Tedder to coordinate Allied air operations…
Wing Commander Robert Roland Stanford Tuck Shot Down
On 28 January 1942, Wing Commander R. R. Stanford Tuck was shot down over northern France and taken…
The USAAF Attacks Germany for the First Time
On 27 January 1943, the United States Eighth Air Force attacked Germany for the first time, marking a…
Malta Fighters Mauled With 7 Hawker Hurricanes Lost
On 25 January 1942, RAF fighters on Malta suffered heavy losses when Luftwaffe Bf 109s shot down seven…