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.
RAF Coastal Convoy Patrols in the Second World War
Second World War
How RAF Coastal Command convoy patrols protected shipping, pressured U-boats and helped sustain Britain through the Battle of the Atlantic.
Read the article →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…
88 Squadron Battles Meet Bf 109s Over France in 1939
The loss of two 88 Squadron Fairey Battles on 20 September 1939 exposed the immediate weakness of RAF…
Guy Gibson Killed Returning from Operations in 1944
Wing Commander Guy Gibson was killed on 19 September 1944, a loss that reflected both his fame and…
RAF Atlantic Approaches: Biscay, U-Boats and Air Power
How the RAF fought the Atlantic air war over Biscay, using long-range patrols, radar and strike aircraft to…
29 Squadron Flies First AIR Beaufighter Sortie in 1940
On 17 September 1940, 29 Squadron flew the first operational sortie by an AI-equipped Beaufighter, marking a key…
617 Squadron, Chastise and the Making of the Dambusters
How 617 Squadron was formed for Operation Chastise, trained in haste and acquired an identity shaped by an…
Saigon Airlift Begins with RAF Dakotas in September 1945
On 11 September 1945, RAF Dakotas began the Saigon airlift, showing how quickly transport aircraft were drawn into…
First V-2 Missile Strikes London at Chiswick in 1944
On 8 September 1944, the first V-2 struck London at Chiswick, beginning a new phase of bombardment with…
Hurricanes Fly to Vaenga from HMS Argus for the Arctic Route
On 7 September 1941, Hurricanes flew from HMS Argus to Vaenga, reinforcing the Soviet north and helping protect…
Battle of Barking Creek Exposes Fighter Control Errors
On 6 September 1939, the Battle of Barking Creek exposed dangerous confusion in Britain’s new air-defence system and…
Bromide Jamming Marks the Start of British Electronic Warfare
On 5 September 1940, Bromide jamming was used operationally against German navigation beams, marking the practical beginning of…
Sergeant George Booth Becomes Britain’s First Prisoner of War
On 4 September 1939, Sergeant George Booth was captured after being shot down, becoming the first British prisoner…