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.
Lysanders Drop Supplies to the Surrounded Calais Garrison
Second World War
On 22 May 1940, Army Co-operation Lysanders began hazardous supply drops to the surrounded Calais garrison during the Battle of France.
Read the article →First Successful Intruder Operations by RAF Night Fighters
On 24 January 1941, Royal Air Force night fighters carried out one of the earliest successful "Intruder" patrols…
Frank Whittle Resigns from Power Jets
On 22 January 1946, Air Commodore Frank Whittle resigned from Power Jets after disputes over the future of…
Hurricanes Defend Singapore Against Japan
On 20 January 1942, RAF Hawker Hurricanes defended Singapore against Japanese bombers during the final stages of the…
The RAF Participates in the Casablanca Conference Air Security
On 18 January 1943, RAF units provided air security and transport support during the Allied conference at Casablanca…
RAF Whitleys Drop Leaflets Over Prague and Vienna
On 12 January 1940, RAF Whitley bombers carried out the service's first leaflet raid over Prague and Vienna…
First RAF Circus Operation: Blenheims Over Guînes, 10 January 1941
On 10 January 1941, the Royal Air Force mounted what became known as the first "Circus" operation over…
Operation Excess and RAF Malta: The Convoy Crisis of January 1941
On 8 January 1941, RAF aircraft from Malta supported Operation Excess, the British convoy effort to reinforce Malta…
Hawker Hurricanes Reach Singapore as the Malayan Campaign Deteriorates
On 3 January 1942, Hawker Hurricanes reached Singapore to strengthen British and Commonwealth air defences as Japanese forces…
Corpo Aereo Italiano: The Final Italian Raid on Britain
On 2 January 1941, the Corpo Aereo Italiano made its final raid on Britain, ending Italy’s brief and…
Operation Bodenplatte: The Luftwaffe’s New Year’s Day Attack
On 1 January 1945, Operation Bodenplatte struck Allied airfields across north-west Europe, but the Luftwaffe's last gamble ended…