Royal Air Force
Organization
Found in 42 Collections and/or Records:
Unknown
"Every man to his post", 11 Sep 1940
Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/144/61-68
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's broadcast (BBC) on subjects including: the night bombing of London; the Battle of Britain and the successes of British fighter squadrons; the possibility of invasion and German deployment of barges, ships and troops in readiness; a call for every man and woman to do his duty; and the strength of British fleets and flotillas, air power, fortification and the million and a half men of the Home Guard. Includes the phrase "This wicked man [Adolf Hitler]...this monstrous product...
Dates:
11 Sep 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Unknown
"Every man to his post", 11 Sep 1940
Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/176A/37-41
Scope and Contents
Draft speaking notes for WSC's broadcast (BBC) on subjects including: the night bombing of London; the Battle of Britain and the successes of British fighter squadrons; the possibility of invasion and German deployment of barges, ships and troops in readiness; a call for every man and woman to do his duty; and the strength of British fleets and flotillas, air power, fortification and the million and a half men of the Home Guard. Includes the phrase "This wicked man [Adolf Hitler]...this...
Dates:
11 Sep 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: News of the World articles by WSC 1., Apr 1938 - May 1938
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 8/614
Scope and Contents
Includes annotated proofs, galley proofs and cuttings from the News of the World for: "How Wars of the Future will be Waged" on the importance of the horse in the Boer War, of machine-guns and tanks in World War I, the need for foresight and initiative amongst generals, and the importance of air power in a future conflict; "Future Safeguards of National Defence" on the importance of the Navy to national defence, the German submarine campaign in World War I, the threat of air attacks on ships...
Dates:
Apr 1938 - May 1938
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: News of the World articles by WSC: 2., May 1939 - Jun 1939
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 8/643
Scope and Contents
Includes annotated proofs, galley proofs, and cuttings from the News of the World for: "Our Rule Britannia Office of State" on the history and structure of the Admiralty, his experience of it during World War I, the replacement of coal-driven ships with oil-powered, the Admiralty yacht, the Enchantress, and praise for the Navy; "The Cinderella of Our Fighting Services" on the War Office, his experiences over demobilisation and mutinies at the end of World War I, and conscription; "Will There...
Dates:
May 1939 - Jun 1939
Conditions Governing Access:
Open.
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Appendices., Oct 1940 - 27 Dec 1948
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/179A-I
Scope and Contents
Includes typescript and galley proofs of the appendices to Volume 2 including: Appendix A "Minutes and Telegrams, May - December 1940"; Appendix B "Loss by Enemy Action of British, Allied and Neutral Merchant Tonnage"; Appendix D "Correspondence Relating to Dakar [Senegal] between Mr Churchill and Mr [Robert] Menzies" [Prime Minister of Australia]; Appendix E "List of Operational Code Names"; Appendix F "List of Abbreviations". The proofs are annotated with suggested amendments and...
Dates:
Oct 1940 - 27 Dec 1948
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Notes and comments by Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall., 02 Mar 1941 - 16 Jun 1949
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/196A-C
Scope and Contents
Includes notes and comments by Pownall on subjects including: factual and printing errors throughout Volume 2; the build-up to the German attack on the Soviet Union; the build-up to "Dynamo" [codename for the evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk, France]; the British Expedition Force; the meeting between 6th Lord Gort [Commander-in-Chief of British Field Force, earlier John Vereker] and General Maxime Weygand [Commander-in-Chief, French Army], May 1940; British casualties; the defence of...
Dates:
02 Mar 1941 - 16 Jun 1949
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Various comments., 13 Jan 1945 - 15 Jul 1949
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/197A-B
Scope and Contents
Includes notes and correspondence on research and corrections for Volume 2 from individuals including: Daniel Longwell [Editor of Life Magazine]; Professor Albert Goodwin [former Staff Officer, Air Ministry War Room, and member of Historical Branch, Air Ministry] on the Blitz, and WSC's chapters on the Blitz and Battle of Britain (includes comments by Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall); George [Gordon] Allen on Operation "Sea Lion" [codename for planned German invasion of Britain], with...
Dates:
13 Jan 1945 - 15 Jul 1949
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., 01 Jan 1922 - 31 Jul 1922
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/3
Scope and Contents
General Correspondence and Papers: Correspondence with David Lloyd George, Prime Minister and Arthur Balfour, Lord President of the Council on Washington Conference on naval armaments; Air Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard (2) on the Naval Air Service and Admiralty-Air Ministry relations; Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary, CID (3); Admiral of the Fleet Lord Beatty on naval aviation; memo by WSC on "The Air Force in Relation to the Army and Navy".
Dates:
01 Jan 1922 - 31 Jul 1922
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., 09 Jul 1935 - 09 Dec 1935
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/4
Scope and Contents
Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Correspondence with Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary, CID; F A Lindemann (later Lord Cherwell) (2); Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister (later Lord Swinton), Sec. of State for Air, on the expansion of the RAF, war industrial organisation and anti-aircraft defence and research; A P Rowe, Joint Secretary, ADR Sub-Committee on infra-red detection (2).
Dates:
09 Jul 1935 - 09 Dec 1935
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., Apr 1935 - May 1935
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/5
Scope and Contents
Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Papers (A.D.R. 1-11) and other prints Including note by Sir Maurice Hankey on the membership and terms of reference of the Commitee (A.D.R. 1) Tentative outline of the work for the Committee (A.D.R. 2) Report and memorandum by the Home Defence Sub-Committee of the CID on the Re-orientation of the Air Defence System of Great Britain (A.D.R. 3) Memorandum by the Home Defence Sub-Committee of the CID - on the Organisation and expansion of the Observer Corps...
Dates:
Apr 1935 - May 1935
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., Jun 1935 - Dec 1935
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/6
Scope and Contents
Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Papers (A.D.R. 12-34) and other prints Interim Report (A.D.R. 12) Memorandum by Vice-Admiral Reginald Henderson (3rd Sea Lord) on Ranges of Naval High Current Density Searchlight Beams (A.D.R. 13) Minute by Captain Gerald Wrisberg (War Office) on Ranges of Naval High Current Density Searchlight Beams (A.D.R. 14) Memorandum on comparison of Naval and Land Service anti-aircraft guns (A.D.R. 15) Conclusions of the Third meeting of the Committee Air Ministry...
Dates:
Jun 1935 - Dec 1935
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., 01 Jan 1936 - 31 Dec 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/7
Scope and Contents
Air Defence Research Sub-Committee General Correspondence Correspondents include Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary, CID (10) on his figures on the strength, training and organisation of the German air force and the progress of the Committee; Sir Philip Sassoon, Under Sec. of State for Air) on the expansion of the RAF; Desmond Morton (2) on comparison of British and German air strength; Philip Cunliffe-Lister (later Lord Swinton), Sec. of State for Air (4) on German air strength and anti-aircraft...
Dates:
01 Jan 1936 - 31 Dec 1936
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., Jun 1936 - Nov 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/9
Scope and Contents
Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Papers (A.D.R. 51-68) (55 and 56 are missing) and other prints Conclusions of the 9th meeting of the Committee Conclusions of the 10th meeting of the Committee Note by Henry Tizard on WSC's memorandum on aerial mines (A.D.R. 51) Memorandum on German Air Strength by WSC (A.D.R. 52) Note on progress of the Committee for the Scientific Survey of Air Defence (A.D.R. 53) Memorandum by Lt-General Sir Hugh Elles, Master General of the Ordnance, on rocket...
Dates:
Jun 1936 - Nov 1936
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., 27 Feb 1936 - 20 Dec 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/10
Scope and Contents
Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Correspondence with F A Lindemann (later Lord Cherwell) on air defence, including copies of Lindemann's correspondence with Henry Tizard, and Lord Swinton, the Secretary of State for Air file also includes letter from Robert Watson Watt on his work on radio direction finding (R.D.F. later Radar).
Dates:
27 Feb 1936 - 20 Dec 1936
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., Mar 1936 - Dec 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/11
Scope and Contents
Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Draft memoranda by WSC on aerial mines; the relative strength of the RAF and the German Air Force and invasion by air.
Dates:
Mar 1936 - Dec 1936
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., Mar 1937 - Jul 1937
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/12
Scope and Contents
Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Correspondence and notes Correspondence with Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary, CID (2); notes by F A Lindemann (later Lord Cherwell) on German air strength; letter from Captain George Wrisberg, War Office on anti-aircraft gunnery.
Dates:
Mar 1937 - Jul 1937
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., Jan 1937 - Oct 1937
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/13
Scope and Contents
Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Papers (A.D.R. 69-90) (73 missing) and other prints Memorandum by WSC on German Air Strength, with comments by the Air Staff (CID Papers 1295B and 1296B) Note by the Master General of the Ordnance Lt-Gen Sir Hugh Elles on trials to determine the effective range of searchlights (A.D.R. 69) Air Ministry note on meteorological questions (A.D.R. 70) Air Ministry note on experiments to determine the effective range of searchlights (A.D.R. 71) Memorandum by Air...
Dates:
Jan 1937 - Oct 1937
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Committee of Imperial Defence., 07 Feb 1938 - 30 Oct 1938
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 25/14
Scope and Contents
Air Defence Research Sub-Committee Correspondence with Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary, CID (3); Sir Kingsley Wood, Secretary of State for Air (7).
Dates:
07 Feb 1938 - 30 Oct 1938
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Political: Constituency: Woodford [Essex]: correspondence with or on behalf of constituents, L-R., Jun 1945 - May 1946
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 3/26A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: [Claud] Wright, [Principal] (3) and M L Elder (8) of the War Office; J H Hughes of the Air Ministry (9); constituent R W McOwen (5); Sir James Hawkey [Chairman of Woodford Conservative Association] (8); Leslie Rowan [Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister Clement Attlee]; [Hugh] Farmar [Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Air] (2); Sir George Harvie Watt; Archie Moore, Surgeon to the London Hospital, on a constituent's health; Joyce Gordon...
Dates:
Jun 1945 - May 1946
Conditions Governing Access:
Open, (folios 173-9 and 207-9 opened in 2022)
File
Public and Political: General: Air Defence: Deputations to the Prime Minister., 21 Jul 1936 - 21 Jan 1937
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/270
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Clement Attlee [Leader of the Opposition] refusing to join the deputations to the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin; Osmund Cleverly [Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister]; Henry Pownall [Deputy Secretary], Committee of Imperial Defence; Hastings Ismay [Deputy Secretary], Committee of Imperial Defence] (2).Also includes: extracts from the transcript of the first deputation, including [?] WSC on the Government's failure to expand the air industry and the RAF...
Dates:
21 Jul 1936 - 21 Jan 1937
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Defence., 08 Jan 1938 - [1940]
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/336
Scope and Contents
Correspondents on defence issues include: 5th Lord Munster [earlier Geoffry FitzClarence] (2); Robert Cary on developments in Japanese naval armaments and the implications for Singapore; Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister, on WSC's notes on aircraft types (2); Sir Henry Strakosch (3); F A Lindemann [later 1st Lord Cherwell] on Strakosch's figures for the air raids on Barcelona [Spain]; [Eric] John Hodsoll [Inspector-General], Home Office ARP Department, on the state of the ARP programme,...
Dates:
08 Jan 1938 - [1940]
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Defence., 06 Nov 1936 - 20 Jan 1942
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/371A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents on defence issues include: Sir Thomas Inskip [Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, later 1st Lord Caldecote]; Harry Sellar, Private Secretary to Inskip (2); Leslie Hore-Belisha, Secretary of State for War, on subjects including the arming of the Guards Battalions; Sir Kingsley Wood, Secretary of State for Air, on showing WSC [air construction graphs]; 1st Lord Swinton [former Secretary of State for Air, earlier Philip Cunliffe-Lister and Philip Lloyd-Greame] on the formation...
Dates:
06 Nov 1936 - 20 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open.
File
Public and Political: General: Defence: Correspondence etc., 12 Jan 1936 - 27 Nov 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/266A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Basil Liddell Hart [Military Correspondent to the Times] on the troop system used in India; "Harold R" [1st Lord Rothermere, earlier Sir Harold Harmsworth] on subjects including 1st Lord Weir's position in defence [as Adviser to the Air Ministry], the likely stop to any battleship programme, pilot training, the likelihood of a quick German victory against Britain and France, German contempt for the British Government, and the Government's refusal to discuss the...
Dates:
12 Jan 1936 - 27 Nov 1936
Conditions Governing Access:
Open, (folio 93 opened as a 'sanitised' photocopy, original closed on advice of Cabinet Office).
File
Public and Political: General: Defence: Inventions and suggestions., Nov 1935 - 31 Jul 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/278
Scope and Contents
Correspondents on defence inventions and suggestions from the general public include: Richard Powell [Assistant Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty] (3); Desmond Morton [Director, Industrial Intelligence Centre]; Sir Christopher Bullock [Permanent Secretary], Air Ministry; Ralph Assheton [later 1st Lord Clitheroe]; Colonel George Turner [former Superintendent, Design Department, Royal Arsenal]; Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Thoroton on the advantages of Admiralty control of the...
Dates:
Nov 1935 - 31 Jul 1936
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Defence: Memoranda etc., 14 Feb 1936 - 26 Oct 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/268
Scope and Contents
Includes: memorandum by Desmond Morton on subjects including German propaganda on French military aviation and the Soviet army, and notes [added to file in January 1996] on a speech by the Minister for Co-ordination of Defence [Sir Thomas Inskip, later 1st Lord Caldecote], rebutting Inskip's claims for military production; memorandum by Sir Philip Gibbs on the inefficient state of the RAF, and its need for expansion; press cuttings from the Figaro, with an article on the Anglo-French crisis...
Dates:
14 Feb 1936 - 26 Oct 1936
Conditions Governing Access:
Open