Royal Air Force
Organization
Found in 310 Collections and/or Records:
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Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 2 "Their Finest Hour": 'Superseded' proofs., 01 Mar 1948 - 27 Aug 1948
File
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
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
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
File
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
Item
"Mr Churchill's luncheon speech at Biggin Hill", 1951-06-18
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/WCHL 12/24/20
Scope and Contents
Speech to the officers of 615 Squadron at Biggin Hill RAF Station, Surrey, also including WSC's speech to the whole squadron on the airfield, on subjects including his links with the RAF, his own flying experiences and the role of the Auxiliary Air Force. 1 12" disc and 2 10" discs.
Dates:
1951-06-18
Conditions Governing Access:
Access copy available.
File
Naval papers (including Singapore), 1922-10 - 1955-08
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/AMEL 1/3/62
Scope and Contents
Admiralty and Cabinet papers, including: memoranda [? by LSA] on recent naval policy, and making use of Britain's reduced naval power, on the importance of Singapore and on the cruiser position; memorandum by Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary to the Cabinet, on a proposed naval base at Singapore; Admiralty memorandum on Empire naval policy and co-operation; memorandum and statement by LSA on the navy estimates, 1923-24; Admiralty memorandum on relative naval strengths and the One Power Standard;...
Dates:
1922-10 - 1955-08
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
The papers are open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
File
Official: Cabinet: National Expenditure; Fighting Services Committee: various papers., 12 Jan 1922 - 02 Nov 1922
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 22/17
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: 1st Lord Lee of Fareham [First Lord of the Admiralty] on building 2 new battleships.Also includes: notes on the construction of the new ships and the Washington Treaty; comparative statements of Army, Navy and Air Force estimates and reductions (1920-1924) and pay levels (1913-1914 and 1922-1923); a note by WSC on the distribution of naval personnel; a provisional statement showing naval reductions suggested by WSC; a statement of numbers of naval personnel afloat and...
Dates:
12 Jan 1922 - 02 Nov 1922
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Cabinet: papers 81 to 100., 10 Mar 1928 - 28 Mar 1928
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 22/194
Scope and Contents
Includes papers by various individuals on various subjects including: Sir Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary, on the League of Nations and disarmament, negotiations with the Nanking [China] government and relations between Canada and Japan; Sir Douglas Hogg [later 1st Lord Hailsham], Attorney-General on the prerogative of the Crown; Leo Amery, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, on subjects including a Zionist loan, compensation claims in the Irish Free State [later Ireland], and the...
Dates:
10 Mar 1928 - 28 Mar 1928
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Cabinet: papers 101-120., 21 Mar 1928 - 11 Apr 1928
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 22/195
Scope and Contents
Includes papers by various individuals on various subjects including: [1st] Lord Cushendun [earlier Ronald McNeill], Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on disarmament; Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister [earlier Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame, later Lord Swinton], President of the Board of Trade, on the export of arms and ammunition; Sir Samuel Hoare [later Lord Templewood, Secretary of State for Air] on air operation in Aden [later Yemen]; [1st] Lord Birkenhead [earlier F E Smith] Secretary of State...
Dates:
21 Mar 1928 - 11 Apr 1928
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Cabinet: papers 381 - 400., 29 Jul 1925 - 12 Aug 1925
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 22/42
Scope and Contents
Includes papers from various individuals on various subjects, including: Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister [earlier Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame, later 1st Lord Swinton], President of the Board of Trade, on the Safeguarding of Industries (Gas Mantles), licenses for arms export, the future of the British Industries Fair, and the British Dyestuffs Corporation; the report of the Gas Mantle Committee; 1st Lord Balfour, Lord President of Council, on the use of the Severn Estuary for electricity production;...
Dates:
29 Jul 1925 - 12 Aug 1925
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
Official: Munitions., 21 May 1917 - 31 Dec 1917
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 15/57
Scope and Contents
A (Air) Various papers including proceedings of Anglo-French conference on Aeronautical supplies; memo by WSC on the estimated output of aircraft for 1917; notes on the limitations controlling the output of complete aeroplanes and seaplanes by Sir William Weir with reply by WSC; letter from Lord Cowdray to General Jan Smuts on the functions of the Air Board; correspondence between Lord Weir and Major R C Bolling, United States Aeronautical Commission; Statement by Weir on Aeronautical supply...
Dates:
21 May 1917 - 31 Dec 1917
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
File
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: Treasury: Committee on navy, army and air force expenditure report; prepared by 1st Lord Colwyn [earlier Sir Frederick Smith], 1st Lord Chalmers, and 1st Lord Bradbury., Dec 1925
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 18/14
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
The Treasury papers contain correspondence, minutes, tables, printed reports, and other papers which were created or accumulated as a result of WSC's activities as Chancellor of the Exchequer, a position held from November 1924 to June 1929. The papers have been divided into general correspondence, WSC's outgoing minutes, and subject-based files and are arranged chronologically.The Treasury material covers WSC's ministerial duties as Chancellor, including the annual production of the budget,...
Dates:
Dec 1925
Conditions Governing Access:
Open