On This Day, 1940: On 22 July 1940, an RAF Blenheim used airborne interception radar to shoot down a Dornier Do 17…
Read the entry →Second World War Articles
In-depth articles, analysis and long reads from The RAF Chronicle.
Arthur Harris Takes Command of RAF Bomber Command in 1942
Second World War
On 22 February 1942, Arthur Harris took command of RAF Bomber Command, marking a decisive shift towards a more aggressive strategic bombing offensive.
Read the article →Heavy Losses over Sedan Expose RAF Vulnerability in 1940
On this day in 1940, RAF attacks on the German breakthrough at Sedan suffered severe losses, exposing the…
Reinforcing Malta by Air: RAF Fighters and Survival
How repeated RAF fighter deliveries to Malta helped the island survive siege, contest Axis air attack and remain…
First Success for Fido in the Battle of the Atlantic
On this day in 1943, a Liberator of 86 Squadron crippled U-456 with Fido, proving the value of…
The RAF’s First Deliberate Raid on Germany Begins Over Rhine
On this day in 1940, Whitleys of 77 Squadron and 102 Squadron carried out what is often described…
Operation Oppidan and Operation Hansford Deliver Fighters to Malta
On this day in 1942, Operations Oppidan and Hansford delivered Spitfires to Malta, strengthening the island’s RAF fighter…
RAF Aircraft Fuel Systems, Range and Operational Endurance
How RAF fuel systems, tank design and fuel management shaped aircraft range, endurance, mission planning and operational reach.
Leonard Trent and the Amsterdam Power Station Raid
Squadron Leader Leonard Trent won the Victoria Cross after pressing home the 1943 Amsterdam power station attack under…
The RAF in the Desert Air War and North African Campaign
How the RAF fought and adapted in the desert air war, where North African conditions helped shape modern…
The RAF and D-Day Air Power in Operation Overlord
How the RAF helped make D-Day possible through air superiority, transport missions, tactical support and the wider air…
RAF Losses and Attrition Across the Second World War
How RAF losses in war included combat, training and hidden attrition, shaping policy, doctrine and the conduct of…
RAF Aircrew Training WWII: From Recruit to Front Line
How RAF aircrew training expanded from pre-war limits into a vast wartime system that sustained front-line operations across…
RAF Bombing Strategy: From Daylight Raids to the Night War
How RAF bombing strategy evolved from costly daylight raids to a sustained night offensive shaped by loss rates,…