Royal Air Force
Organization
Found in 25 Collections and/or Records:
File
Official: War Cabinet: Prime Minister's Directives., 18 Dec 1941 - 30 Dec 1942
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/10
Scope and Contents
Printed directives by the Prime Minister, WSC, on subjects including: the future conduct of the war; the Pacific and the Japanese fleet; the entry of the United States into the war; the Atlantic Front; the Indian Ocean; the function of the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey]; Vichy France's co-operation with Germany; the function of the Minister Resident in West Africa [1st Lord Swinton, earlier Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, earlier Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame]; Fleet Air Arm...
Dates:
18 Dec 1941 - 30 Dec 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Private and Personal: Correspondence E - M., 09 Feb 1944 - 02 Jan 1946
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 2/141A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Anthony Eden on not accepting the order of the garter, building up the Conservative Front Bench and broadening the party's appeal (2); Dwight Eisenhower [Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force in Western Europe] on finding United States accommodation for WSC on the Riviera [France] and on a statement concerning the crisis in January 1945 over pulling troops out of Alsace (3); Frank Cook [Charge d'Affaires, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia] on the gift of a picture from...
Dates:
09 Feb 1944 - 02 Jan 1946
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 08 Oct 1940 - 19 Dec 1940
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/142A-B
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (8 October) on the Battle of Britain, the Home Guard and the Home Front, Hitler's threat to invade Britain, events at Dakar [Senegal], the desertion of Vichy France, the Burma road [between Burma, later Myanmar, and China] and events in Spain. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6284-94.Notes for WSC's statement (17 October) on Robert Boothby [Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Food] and Czechoslovak claims.Notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on the war situation,...
Dates:
08 Oct 1940 - 19 Dec 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 23 Apr 1942 - 02 Jun 1942
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/184A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (23 April) in secret session on the war situation including: Japan's entry into the war; setbacks including battleship losses; defence of the Admiralty over the escape of the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau; events and operations in the Far East, the Middle East and the Soviet Union; air battles including the bombing of Germany; and aircraft and ship production. Also includes correspondence from: Maurice Dean [Assistant Under Secretary of State,...
Dates:
23 Apr 1942 - 02 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 27 Jul 1943 - 13 Oct 1943
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/192A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (27 July) on the fall of Mussolini including an assessment of his regime and the principles to be used in negotiations with Italy; and also on events and operations in the Soviet Union and the bombing of Germany. Also includes correspondence from 1st Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin, British Ambassador to the United States]; Francis Keenlyside [Assistant Secretary in charge of Shipping Policy]; Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the Cabinet]; and...
Dates:
27 Jul 1943 - 13 Oct 1943
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 19 Jul 1944 - 08 Aug 1944
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/200A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's statement (2 August) on the war situation including: successes against Germany and Japan world-wide including the Far East; decisions made at the Quebec [Canada] conference; the Normandy landings; RAF losses; the tanks supplied by the United States and praise for the Sherman and Churchill tanks; the progress of General Sir Harold Alexander [Commander in Chief of the Allied Armies in Italy]; his hopes of victory; flying bombs and the evacuation of London; improved...
Dates:
19 Jul 1944 - 08 Aug 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 01 May 1945 - 31 May 1945
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/209/5
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, May 1945. Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: senior civil servants, including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; the Chief Whip [James Stuart]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; the Chiefs of Staff; "C" [Major General Sir Stewart Menzies, Head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service]....
Dates:
01 May 1945 - 31 May 1945
Conditions Governing Access:
Open, except for minutes M 497/5 and C 42/5, which are closed on Cabinet Office instructions under S23 of the Freedom of Information Act. Review 2032.
Item
(Untitled), [1948]
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/250A/3-48
Scope and Contents
Long galley proofs of a contemporary despatch by Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham [former Commander-in-Chief, Far East] covering the period 17 October 1940 to 27 December 1941, with sections on: the formation, problems, and work of General Headquarters, Far East; factors affecting the defence of Malaya and Borneo [later Malaysia], Burma [later Myanmar], and Hong Kong; neighbouring countries; the development of the British Air Forces in the Far East; army strength and requirements...
Dates:
[1948]
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Found in:
Churchill Archives Centre
/
The Papers of Sir Winston Churchill
/
Chartwell Papers
/
Official: Prime Minister
/
Official: Prime Minister: Far East theatre, 1940-42: proofs of mainly contemporary despatches and reports for publication, with accompanying correspondence. [some material probably used in the production of WSC's "Second World War"].
Item
(Untitled), c 1947
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/251/10
Scope and Contents
Long galley proofs entitled "Air Operations in Burma and Bay of Bengal, January 1st to May 22nd 1942" reprinting a contemporary despatch by Air Vice-Marshal [Donald] Stevenson [Air Officer Commanding, Burma, later Myanmar] with sections setting out the situation, on Japanese air strength, the air superiority battle over and later evacuation of Rangoon, the land battle at Tenasserim, the withdrawal up the Prome Road, the reverse at Magwe, the withdrawal of the Burma Army to India, and...
Dates:
c 1947
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Found in:
Churchill Archives Centre
/
The Papers of Sir Winston Churchill
/
Chartwell Papers
/
Official: Prime Minister
/
Official: Prime Minister: Far East theatre, 1941-42: proofs of mainly contemporary despatches and reports for publication, with accompanying correspondence. [some material probably used in the production of WSC's "Second World War"].
Item
(Untitled), 1948
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/251/45
Scope and Contents
Bound set of page proofs for a supplement to the London Gazette entitled "Report on the air operations during the campaigns in Malaya [later Malaysia] and Netherland East Indies [later Indonesia] from 8th December, 1941, to 12th March, 1942" reprinting a despatch by Air Vice-Marshal Sir Paul Maltby, former Assistant Air Officer Commanding Far East Command, RAF, and AOC in Java, dated 26 July 1947, with sections on pre-war preparations, a narrative of operations based on Malaya, summaries of...
Dates:
1948
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Found in:
Churchill Archives Centre
/
The Papers of Sir Winston Churchill
/
Chartwell Papers
/
Official: Prime Minister
/
Official: Prime Minister: Far East theatre, 1941-42: proofs of mainly contemporary despatches and reports for publication, with accompanying correspondence. [some material probably used in the production of WSC's "Second World War"].
Item
(Untitled), 01 May 1944 - 31 May 1944
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/152/5
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, May 1944.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: the Chiefs of Staff; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers, particularly Foreign Secretary [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon]; Major-General Leslie Hollis [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet]; senior civil servants, including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the...
Dates:
01 May 1944 - 31 May 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 13 Apr 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/73/89-90
Scope and Contents
Telegram from Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] (Karachi [India, later Pakistan]) to WSC regarding the defence situation in India, particularly the air and naval situation and commenting on the need for heavy bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.
Dates:
13 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 14 Apr 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/73/96
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to the Lord Privy Seal [Sir Stafford Cripps] (Cairo [Egypt]) concerning the position of the Air Ministry with regard to supplying bombers to India.
Dates:
14 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 19 Apr 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/73/128-130
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India: comments on fighter and bomber strengths in India and Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] and details reinforcements; comments on plans to build up a powerful naval force in the Indian Ocean under Admiral Sir James Somerville [Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet]; comments on the strategic importance of holding Colombo [Ceylon] and preserving the link with China; states that he is sending Wavell extracts of a telegram from...
Dates:
19 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 19 Apr 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/73/135-136
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] reciting a note drafted by Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal [Chief of the Air Staff] regarding air reinforcements for Burma [later Myanmar], India and Ceylon [later Sri Lanka]: agrees with proposals to bring United States bombardment squadrons in India up to full strength and to transfer 34 heavy and medium bomber aircraft from British allocations; comments on the need to retain Kittyhawk aircraft for use in...
Dates:
19 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 29 Apr 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/70-72
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: thanks Roosevelt for his telegram about "Ironclad" [codename for operation against Diego Suarez, Madagascar] and for the use of USS Wasp; comments on the arrival of General Henri Giraud at Vichy [France]; comments on "desperate attacks" on the Tirpitz at Trondheim [Norway] and German retaliation against British towns near the coast; gives details of recent German aircraft losses over Norwich [Norfolk] and York;...
Dates:
29 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 02 May 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/101-104
Scope and Contents
Telegram from Admiral Geoffrey Layton [Commander-in- Chief, Ceylon] reporting on progress in Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] since 5 April 1942: outlines reinforcements and withdrawals; describes defensive works and reports on the RDF [Radio Direction Finder] situation; comments on aerodrome facilities and the likely zone of the main enemy landing; reports present airforce and army dispositions.
Dates:
02 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 12 May 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/17-19
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] marked "personal and secret" requesting supplies of aircraft: asks for help in securing a loan of 200 Martlets (fighter aircraft) to help meet the threat posed by Japanese aircraft carriers equipped with fighter dive-bombers; asks for an early supply of transport aircraft for use by British airborne forces during the summer; suggests that American airborne units should be sent to train alongside their British...
Dates:
12 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 01 Jul 1943 - 31 Jul 1943
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/104/1
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, July 1943.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; the Chiefs of Staff; senior civil servants, including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; "C" [Major General Sir Stewart Menzies, Head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service].Subjects covered by the minutes...
Dates:
01 Jul 1943 - 31 Jul 1943
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 01 Aug 1943 - 28 Aug 1943
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/104/2
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, August 1943. Some written by WSC when in Canada and the United States.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers, particularly Foreign Secretary [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon]; the Chief Whip [James Stuart]; the Chiefs of...
Dates:
01 Aug 1943 - 28 Aug 1943
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 20 Oct 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/54B/150-163
Scope and Contents
Letter from WSC to [Franklin Roosevelt] President of the United States, detailing secret military plans, reorganisation of command, and projected course of the war: Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to attack Cyrenaica [Libya], then advance on Tripoli; invasion of Norway has been planned as a cover; reports of German preparation for invasion of Britain over North Sea; seeks introduction of American troops to Northern Ireland; command. structure between the...
Dates:
20 Oct 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 02 Jan 1942 - 28 Feb 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/67/1
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, January and February 1942. Some written by WSC when in the United States.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: Major-General Leslie Hollis [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet]; Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin, British Ambassador to the United States]; the Chiefs of Staff; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to...
Dates:
02 Jan 1942 - 28 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 02 Oct 1942 - 31 Oct 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/67/8
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, October 1942.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; senior civil servants, including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; the Chiefs of Staff; Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Jacob [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet].Subjects covered by the minutes include:...
Dates:
02 Oct 1942 - 31 Oct 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 04 Mar 1942 - 28 May 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/57B/157-183,185
Scope and Contents
Letter from 1st Lord Hankey [Paymaster-General] to WSC enclosing memoranda on the use and techniques of Bomber Command and the dispersal of capital ships and their use against Japan, written before his resignation; forwarded to the Secretary of State for Air [Sir Archibald Sinclair, later 1st Lord Thurso] and Chief of Air Staff [Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal], the First Lord of the Admiralty [A V Alexander] and 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound]; with replies by...
Dates:
04 Mar 1942 - 28 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 20 Oct 1941
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/20/43-57
Scope and Contents
Letter from WSC to President [Franklin Roosevelt] outlining various plans and proposals concerning: attacking the German and Italian armies in Libya; French North Africa; Norway; British contributions to the Soviet war effort; defending Great Britain from a possible German invasion; placing United States forces in Northern Ireland [Ulster]; the command structure in the Middle East and the roles of the Air Force and Navy; the effect of victory in Libya on Italy and Turkey; landing tanks; the...
Dates:
20 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open