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Royal Air Force

 Organization

Found in 129 Collections and/or Records:

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 File

Articles, 1933 - 1940

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/SPRS 7/7
Scope and Contents Typescript texts and drafts of articles and some broadcasts on subjects including: General Maxime Weygand; the Local Defence Volunteers; co-operation between the Army and Royal Air Force, particularly relating to operations in France; the need for strong leadership and a small War Cabinet in the direction of the war effort; whether the Royal Air Force should retain its own authority; General Alphonse Georges; France as Britain’s ally; the war of nerves with Germany; Adolf Hitler’s tactics;...
Dates: 1933 - 1940
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
 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
 Unknown

"Give us the tools", 9 Feb 1941

 Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/150A/52-75
Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's broadcast (BBC) on the war situation including: the repulsion of the threat of German invasion, the Blitz and the bombing of Britain; the strength of British spirit; the Italian attack on Greece; successes in Libya and Egypt, including victory at Sidi Barrani under General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander in Chief Middle East] and General [Henry] Wilson; successes of the British Mediterranean Fleet against the Italian navy under Admiral [Sir Andrew] Cunningham...
Dates: 9 Feb 1941
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Letters of [Clarence] Terry Dawson relating to his time as an RAF Cadet at Downing College, 1941-09 - 1943-05

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Reference Code: GBR/0269/DCPP/DAW
Scope and Contents Copies of original letters from Terry to his "very, very dearest" Cynthia, which are often incredibly romantic but contain much information and details about life as an RAF cadet in Cambridge and (social) life more generally at Downing College during the Second World War. His first letters from Downing in November 1942 describe a dance with girls from Homerton College, rowing with the Downing College Boat Club, military training and exams (on a Sunday as the 'Varsity sports' were on the...
Dates: 1941-09 - 1943-05
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Literary: lists of recordings by WSC and cuttings from "Into Battle" and "The Unrelenting Struggle"., [1941] - 1948

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/3
Scope and Contents Includes lists of recordings from the above books, "The Gathering Storm" [volume 1 of "The Second World War"], and "The World Crisis"; pages cut from: "Into Battle" featuring WSC's speeches (13 May, 28 May, 4 June, 18 June, and 20 August 1940) on becoming Prime Minister, the fall of Belgium, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk [France], and the role of the RAF in the Battle of Britain; and "The Unrelenting Struggle" featuring WSC's joint messages with President...
Dates: [1941] - 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Appendices., Oct 1940 - 27 Dec 1948

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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": Book 2 and appendices: 'Final' proofs., 16 Aug 1948 - 21 Feb 1949

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/183A-B
Scope and Contents Includes typescript and galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 13 "At Bay" (provisionally entitled "Alone"); Appendix A "Minutes and Telegrams, May -...
Dates: 16 Aug 1948 - 21 Feb 1949
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Book 2 and Appendices: Master copy proofs., 06 Dec 1948 - 21 Dec 1948

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/181A-B
Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 26...
Dates: 06 Dec 1948 - 21 Dec 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Book 2 and appendices: Proofs for Sir Edward Marsh., 25 Feb 1948 - 25 Aug 1948

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/188A-C
Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz" (provisionally entitled "The Blitz Continues"); Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 26...
Dates: 25 Feb 1948 - 25 Aug 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Book 2 and appendices: Proofs for William Deakin., 21 Aug 1948 - 30 Nov 1948

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/192A-C
Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 26...
Dates: 21 Aug 1948 - 30 Nov 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Book 2 and appendices: 'Starred final' proofs., 22 Oct 1948 - 16 Feb 1949

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/185A-B
Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 7 "Back to France"; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 22 "The Mediterranean Passage"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State...
Dates: 22 Oct 1948 - 16 Feb 1949
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Book 2: Proofs for CSC., 01 Mar 1948 - 29 Nov 1948

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/190A-B
Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs of: contents tables for Book 2; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 17 "The Blitz"; Chapter 18 "'London Can Take It'"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 24 "Dakar" [Senegal]; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 26 "Relations with Vichy [France] and Spain"...
Dates: 01 Mar 1948 - 29 Nov 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"., 03 Jan 1947 - 19 Nov 1951

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/162
Scope and Contents Includes typescript and galley proofs of Chapter 16 entitled "The Battle of Britain", annotated with suggested amendments and corrections by various individuals including: WSC, William Deakin, Denis Kelly, Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall, Sir Edward Marsh, 1st Lord Cherwell [earlier F A Lindemann], 1st Lord Ismay, Sir Norman Brook [later 1st Lord Normanbrook, Secretary to the Cabinet], CSC and Elizabeth Gilliatt, WSC's secretary.Also includes: note from Jo Sturdee ["N S", later Lady...
Dates: 03 Jan 1947 - 19 Nov 1951
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Chapter 27 "Mussolini Attacks Greece"., Nov 1940 - 04 Dec 1948

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/173
Scope and Contents Includes typescript and galley proofs of Chapter 27 entitled [Benito] "Mussolini Attacks Greece", annotated with suggested amendments and corrections by various individuals including: WSC, William Deakin, Charles Wood, Denis Kelly, George [Gordon] Allen, CSC, Anthony Eden [later 1st Lord Avon], 1st Lord Ismay and Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall.Some source material is also present in the file including: notes on the Greek campaign in Albania, 1940 - 1941; copy of a report by Air...
Dates: Nov 1940 - 04 Dec 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Chapter 30 "Ocean Peril"., 02 Mar 1948 - 17 Oct 1948

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/176
Scope and Contents Includes typescript and galley proofs of Chapter 30 entitled "Ocean Peril" (provisionally entitled "The Air and the U-Boats" and "The End of the Year"), annotated with suggested amendments and corrections by various individuals including: WSC, William Deakin, Denis Kelly, George [Gordon] Allen and CSC.Some source material is also present in the file, including: notes on the operational control of Coastal Command.Also includes: galley proofs from Volume 3, Chapter 3 "Blitz and Anti-Blitz....
Dates: 02 Mar 1948 - 17 Oct 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Comments by Sir Norman Brook., 28 Jan 1948 - 01 Nov 1948

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/193
Scope and Contents Includes notes by Sir Norman Brook [later 1st Lord Normanbrook, Secretary to the Cabinet] on Volume 2, on subjects including: Chapter 1 "The National Coalition"; Chapter 2 "The Battle of France. The First Week. [General Maurice] Gamelin"; Chapter 3 "The Battle of France. The Second Week. [General Maxime] Weygand"; Chapter 5 "The Deliverance of Dunkirk"; Chapter 8 "Home Defence. June"; Chapter 10 "The Bordeaux Armistice"; Chapter 13 "At Bay" (provisionally entitled "Alone"); Chapter 16 "The...
Dates: 28 Jan 1948 - 01 Nov 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": 'Superseded' proofs., 01 Mar 1948 - 27 Aug 1948

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/186
Scope and Contents Includes galley proofs from: Chapter 12 "The Apparatus of Counter-Attack. 1940"; Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain"; Chapter 19 "The Wizard War"; Chapter 20 "United States Destroyers and West Indian Bases"; Chapter 21 "Egypt and the Middle East"; Chapter 23 "September Tensions"; Chapter 25 "Mr Eden's Mission" [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon, Secretary of State for War]; Chapter 27 [Benito] "Mussolini Attacks Greece"; Chapter 28 "Lend-Lease"; Chapter 30 "Ocean Peril" (provisionally...
Dates: 01 Mar 1948 - 27 Aug 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Various comments., 13 Jan 1945 - 15 Jul 1949

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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

Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": Various material., 22 May 1940 - 15 Jan 1949

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/198
Scope and Contents Includes: extracts from the Belgian press on the surrender of Belgium in 1940, with comments by Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall; issue of the Air Ministry pamphlet "The Battle of Britain"; typescript draft of Chapter 16 "The Battle of Britain" annotated by WSC, Denis Kelly and [?] Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park [former Commander of No 11 Fighter Group]; supplements to the London Gazette on the Battle of Britain and the evacuation from Dunkirk [France], containing despatches from Air...
Dates: 22 May 1940 - 15 Jan 1949
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Literary: The Second World War, Volume 3 "The Grand Alliance", various material., Jul 1939 - Sep 1949

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/248
Scope and Contents Includes source material for Volume 3 of "The Second World War" including: correspondence from [George] Gordon Allen, William Deakin, Ian Montgomery [Private Secretary to Secretary of the Treasury], Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall, Alfred Bavin of the Cabinet Office, and "Pug" [1st Lord Ismay]; notes and transcripts of telegrams on the occupation of France, Operation "Menace" [the code name for the Anglo Free French mission to Dakar, Senegal] and the passage of French cruisers through...
Dates: Jul 1939 - Sep 1949
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Official: Prime Minister: Air Operations in Britain and North-West Europe, 1940-45: 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"]., Jun 1946 - Sep 1948

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/245
Scope and Contents From the Series: This class comprises correspondence and papers relating to Churchill's wartime premiership. It includes: private office correspondence; personal telegrams; printed copies of personal minutes, telegrams and reports; correspondence relating to appointments and patronage; some family correspondence (for which see also CHAR 1); and some engagements cards and diaries. No distinction has been attempted between the offices of Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. The former title has been deemed...
Dates: Jun 1946 - Sep 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Official: War Cabinet: Chiefs of Staff Committee: weekly resumes., 30 May 1940 - 01 Aug 1940

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/5
Scope and Contents

Printed reviews of the naval, military and air situation, including: the evacuation of Dunkirk [France]; minelaying and minesweeping; Scandinavia; Italy; the Balkans; air defence; air attacks on Germany and Britain; losses of shipping; the Western Front; the Mediterranean; the North Sea; enemy naval intelligence; the French fleet; Africa; the German and Italian Air Forces.

Dates: 30 May 1940 - 01 Aug 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 File

Official: War Cabinet: Chiefs of Staff Committee: weekly resumes., 01 Aug 1940 - 03 Oct 1940

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/6
Scope and Contents

Printed reviews of the naval, military and air situation, including: home waters; the Mediterranean; attacks on shipping; enemy shipping; minelaying; minesweeping; Germany; the Middle East; Africa; air defence; air attacks on Germany and Italy; enemy intelligence; the Balkans; home security; economic warfare; Italy; the North Sea; the United States; the Soviet Union.

Dates: 01 Aug 1940 - 03 Oct 1940
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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