On This Day, 1999: On 5 June 1999 RAF Tornados flew their first combat missions from Solenzara in Corsica during Operation Allied…
Read the entry →Second World War Articles
In-depth articles, analysis and long reads from The RAF Chronicle.
RAF Pathfinders and the Evolution of Target‑Marking
Second World War
How RAF Pathfinders improved Bomber Command’s night offensive through specialist crews, navigation aids and disciplined target-marking.
Read the article →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…
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…