Second World War

Operations of the second world war era of the Royal Air Force.

10 Operations Profiled
Featured Operation

Operation Chastise

The Dambuster Raid, 16-17 May 1943

success

On the night of 16–17 May 1943, 617 Squadron breached the Möhne and Eder dams using Barnes Wallis's revolutionary bouncing bomb, in one of the most daring precision raids of the Second World War.

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Sorties 19 aircraft / 133 aircrew
Aircraft lost 8 Avro Lancasters
Aircrew lost 53 killed, 3 captured
Era Second World War

Chronological Timeline · 10 operations

1940 10 July–31 October
Southern England, the English Channel and adjacent airspace

Battle of Britain

How the Battle of Britain saw RAF Fighter Command defeat the Luftwaffe’s attempt to gain the air superiority needed for invasion in 1940.

success
1940 10 May–25 June
France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the English Channel

Battle of France

An RAF-centred history of the Battle of France, from the opening German offensive to Dunkirk, losses in the air, and the lessons of 1940.

failure
1943 16-17 May
Ruhr Valley, Germany

Operation Chastise

On the night of 16–17 May 1943, 617 Squadron breached the Möhne and Eder dams using Barnes Wallis's revolutionary bouncing bomb, in one of the...

success
1944 17–25 September
Netherlands

Operation Market Garden

How the RAF supported Operation Market Garden through transport aircraft, glider towing, fighter control and resupply in September 1944.

failure
1942 19 August
Dieppe, France

Operation Jubilee

How the RAF supported Operation Jubilee at Dieppe and what the air battle revealed about amphibious operations in 1942.

failure
1944 20–25 February
Germany and occupied Europe

Operation Argument

Operation Argument brought RAF Bomber Command into Big Week in February 1944, adding night pressure to the offensive against German air power.

partial
1943 24 July–3 August
Hamburg, Germany

Operation Gomorrah

How RAF Bomber Command carried out Operation Gomorrah against Hamburg using concentrated area bombing and the new Window countermeasure.

success
1942 30–31 May
Cologne, Germany

Operation Millennium

Operation Millennium was Bomber Command’s first thousand-bomber raid, launched against Cologne on 30–31 May 1942 to demonstrate RAF striking power.

costly
1944 6 June–30 August
Normandy, France

Operation Overlord

How the RAF helped shape Operation Overlord through strategic bombing, airborne delivery, air cover and sustained support in Normandy.

success
1942 8 November –13 May 1943
French North Africa and Tunisia

Operation Torch

How the RAF supported Operation Torch through airfield seizure, tactical air power and the wider struggle for air superiority in North Africa.

success