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Royal Air Force

 Organization

Found in 246 Collections and/or Records:

 Item

(Untitled), 14 Apr 1942

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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
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(Untitled), 19 Apr 1942

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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
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(Untitled), 19 Apr 1942

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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
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(Untitled), 23 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/74/11
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Governor of Malta [Lieutenant- General Sir William Dobbie] regarding the need for "most drastic action" to gain and maintain air superiority if Malta is to be held; comments on recent Spitfire losses and the urgent need for supplies.

Dates: 23 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 29 Apr 1942

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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
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(Untitled), 02 May 1942

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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
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(Untitled), 21 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/55-57
Scope and Contents Telegram from Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] to WSC reciting his conclusions on the situation in the Middle East: states that "at present time neither our strength in tanks nor in air is such as to give any chance worth considering of a successful offensive"; gives details of tank and air strength; comments on the need for heavy bombers; comments on the view of General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] that there can be no offensive before mid-May; states that...
Dates: 21 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 30 Sep 1935

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/244/37-39
Scope and Contents

Letter from Desmond Morton, (Earlylands, Crockham Hill, Edenbridge, Kent) to WSC, on relative air strength of Britain and Germany, stating that the number of military aircraft in the possession of the German Air Ministry and available for home defence in Britain were about the same, but that all of the German aircraft were new.

Dates: 30 Sep 1935
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 01 May 1944 - 31 May 1944

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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
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(Untitled), 06 Sep 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/54A/77-78
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding advising that his memorandum on the Battle of Britain has been circulated to the Air Ministry and the United States military, on fighter strategy and development of new fighter aircraft.

Dates: 06 Sep 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 28 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/53C/213
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to Sir Charles Craven [former Controller- General of the Ministry of Aircraft Production] advising that Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfrid Freeman [Chief Executive, Ministry of Aircraft Production] will remain as Deputy to the Chief of Air Staff [Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal] as they work well together.

Dates: 28 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 29 Jun 1945

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/232/33
Scope and Contents

Cabinet memorandum by Chancellor of the Exchequer [Sir John Anderson, later 1st Lord Waverley] on man-power in the second half of 1945, including as an appendix a memorandum by the Minister of Labour and National Service [R A Butler].

Dates: 29 Jun 1945
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 23 May 1945

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/232/36
Scope and Contents

War Cabinet memorandum by the Secretary of State for Air [Sir Archibald Sinclair, later 1st Lord Thurso] marked "Top Secret" on RAF manpower requirements for June to December 1945.

Dates: 23 May 1945
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Feb 1945

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/232/58-70
Scope and Contents

Minute from "P J G" [Sir James Grigg], Secretary of State for War, (War Office) to WSC setting out his proposals for reducing personnel in the Middle East, commenting on internal security considerations, administrative implications, implications special to the RAF, and financial considerations. [initialled; flagged "E"].

Dates: 20 Feb 1945
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), [20] [Feb] [1945]

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/232/71-75
Scope and Contents

Appendix "A" [to a minute from Sir James Grigg, Secretary of State for War, to WSC, CHAR 20/232/58-70] giving details of proposed reductions in manpower in the Middle East. [flagged "B"].

Dates: [20] [Feb] [1945]
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Dec 1944

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/232/83-84
Scope and Contents Minute from WSC to Chancellor of the Exchequer [Sir John Anderson, later 1st Lord Waverley], Minister of Labour [Ernest Bevin], Minister of Production [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos], Secretary of State for War [Sir James Grigg], and General [Sir Hastings] Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence] for the Chiefs of Staff Committee, asking the Secretary of State for War to put forward proposals to reduce manpower in the Middle East, setting out the existing position, and...
Dates: 19 Dec 1944
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 27 Oct 1944

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/232/89-90
Scope and Contents

Memorandum from the Commander in Chief, Middle East Forces [General Sir Bernard Paget] (General Headquarters, Middle East Forces) marked "Top Secret" on manpower levels in the Middle East Base, prepared on WSC's verbal instructions, with an appendix table setting out the relevant figures.

Dates: 27 Oct 1944
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), Jun 1945

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/237/2
Scope and Contents

"Table 1" giving the "estimated strengths of imperial armed forces (white troops)" at approximately 1 May or 1 June 1945 and analysing the imperial army and air force by theatre at approximately 1 June 1945.

Dates: Jun 1945
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), c 1946

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/245/3-36
Scope and Contents

Galley proofs reprinting a despatch by Air Chief Marshal [1st] Lord Dowding [then Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Fighter Command] dated 20 August 1941 on the course of the Battle of Britain incorporating various appendices, with later Air Ministry foreword and footnotes.

Dates: c 1946
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), c 1946

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/245/37-100
Scope and Contents

Galley proofs reprinting a despatch by Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh Mallory, [then] Air Commander-in-Chief, Allied Expeditionary Air Force, dated November 1944, entitled "Air Operations by the Allied Expeditionary Air Force in [North-West] Europe from November 15, 1943 to September 30, 1944" giving details of the AEEF's structure and the planning and carrying out of operations before, including, and after D Day. [annotated by WSC's office].

Dates: c 1946
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), c 1946

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/245/101-106
Scope and Contents

Galley proofs reprinting a despatch by Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas, [then] Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Coastal Command, RAF, dated 1 November 1944, entitled "Liberation of Europe (Operation 'Overlord'): operations of Coastal Command, Royal Air Force, from May to August 1944".

Dates: c 1946
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Apr 1948

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/245/115-143
Scope and Contents

Typescript copy of a report by Air Chief Marshal Sir Roderic Hill, former Air Marshal Commanding, Air Defence of Great Britain, RAF, entitled "Air Operations by Air Defence of Great Britain and Fighter Command in connection with the German Flying Bomb and Rocket Offensives, 1944-1945". [annotated].

Dates: 17 Apr 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), c 1946

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/249B/239-267
Scope and Contents Page proofs [for a supplement to the London Gazette] entitled "The part played by the Allied Air Forces in the final defeat of the enemy in the Mediterranean theatre, March to May, 1945" reprinting a despatch by Air Chief Marshal Sir Guy Garrod, former Commander-in-Chief, Royal Air Force, Mediterranean and Middle East, and Deputy Air Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, dated August 1946, including sections on conditions in the Mediterranean theatre on 16 March, 1945, the...
Dates: c 1946
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), [1948]

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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
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(Untitled), c 1947

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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