Royal Air Force
Organization
Found in 73 Collections and/or Records:
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., 18 Feb 1944 - 22 Mar 1944
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/197A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (22 February) on the progress of the war and the international situation including: the strength of the forces of Germany; successes in the Soviet Union and through bombing attacks on Germany; the importance of the role played by the Royal Navy and the RAF; a prediction of increased attack in 1944; events and operations in Italy, Yugoslavia [later Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia] and Greece; the...
Dates:
18 Feb 1944 - 22 Mar 1944
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 16 Feb 1933 - 07 Nov 1933
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/103
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (22 February) entitled "Broadcasting and political controversy" on the reporting of political affairs and the BBC. Source material includes minutes of a meeting of the Doran Committee on the BBC. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5221-4.Rough notes for WSC's speech (14 March) on air estimates, criticising the disarmament conference at Geneva [Switzerland] and arguing for a strong British air force. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5229-34.Notes for WSC's speech (22...
Dates:
16 Feb 1933 - 07 Nov 1933
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 13 Jun 1934 - Dec 1934
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/108A-B
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (13 June) on the Committee of Privileges' report into allegations concerning the Secretary of State for India [Sir Samuel Hoare, later 1st Lord Templewood] and 17th Lord Derby [Member of the Joint Select Committee on the Indian Constitution]. Also includes copies of Hansard containing speech. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5359-73.Brief notes for WSC's speech (13 July) on the League of Nations and disarmament. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5377-81.Notes for...
Dates:
13 Jun 1934 - Dec 1934
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 11 Mar 1935 - 15 May 1935
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/112A-B
Scope and Contents
WSC's notes for the defence debate (11 March) on defence spending and German military strength.Notes for WSC's speech (19 March) on the relative strengths of the German and British air forces, questioning figures previously quoted by Lord President of the Council [Stanley Baldwin]. Source material includes cuttings from the Daily Telegraph. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5543-51.Notes for WSC's speech (2 May) on foreign policy, the Stresa [Italy] conference, the German threat in Europe,...
Dates:
11 Mar 1935 - 15 May 1935
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 22 May 1935 - 24 Oct 1935
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/113
Scope and Contents
Brief notes for WSC's speech (22 May) on a speech by Adolf Hitler, and comparing German and British military strength. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5610-7.Rough notes for WSC's speech (31 May) entitled "Deepening and Darkening Danger" on Germany's threat and influence in Europe. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5624-7.Notes for WSC's speech (5 June) on his continued doubts about the Government of India Bill, the role of the Indian Princes and Civil Service in the scheme, and...
Dates:
22 May 1935 - 24 Oct 1935
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and source material., 28 Jul 1936 - 10 Dec 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/119A-B
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speeches (28 and 29 July, Secret Defence Deputation to the Prime Minister [Stanley Baldwin]) on the relative strengths of the British and German air forces, the war making capacity of British and German industry, British air training facilities, and German power to bomb British cities.Notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on supporting the League of Nations, collective security, and policy towards Germany and Italy. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5800-4.Notes for WSC's...
Dates:
28 Jul 1936 - 10 Dec 1936
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: speech notes and other material., 09 Jan 1941 - 27 Apr 1941
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/150A-B
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (9 January, Pilgrim's Society Luncheon, Savoy Hotel, London) entitled "United States co-operation" proposing a toast to Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin] on his appointment as British Ambassador to the United States and on the death of [11th] Lord Lothian [earlier Philip Kerr]. Also includes cutting from the Times reporting WSC's speech. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6327-9. Various cuttings reporting WSC's speech (17 January, Glasgow [Scotland])...
Dates:
09 Jan 1941 - 27 Apr 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: speech notes and source material., 19 Mar 1934 - 24 Jul 1934
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/110
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (19 March, Mansion House, London) on ex-services welfare. Source material includes letter from George Tryon [Minister of Pensions], cutting from the Manchester Guardian, statistics on the scale of losses for various nations in World War I, and suggested headings for WSC's speech. Part published: Complete Speeches V p 5349.Rough notes for WSC's speech (20 April, Mansion House, London, Honourable Company of Merchant Mariners Dinner) on the courage of the merchant service...
Dates:
19 Mar 1934 - 24 Jul 1934
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: speech notes and source material., 01 Nov 1934 - 04 Dec 1934
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/111
Scope and Contents
Notes and draft press statement for WSC's speech (1 November, Woodford Bridge [Essex], Constituency meeting) on subjects including the need for Conservatives to be ready for the next general election, the National government, India and air defence against Germany. Part published: Complete Speeches V pp 5389-90.Notes and drafts for WSC's speech (16 November, BBC broadcast) entitled "The Causes of War" on German domestic policy, and the German threat to Europe and Britain. Also includes galley...
Dates:
01 Nov 1934 - 04 Dec 1934
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: speech notes (some by WSC as First Lord of the Admiralty) and other material., 30 Mar 1940 - 01 Oct 1940
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/144
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's broadcast (30 March, BBC) entitled "A hideous state of alarm and menace" on the fate of the neutral nations, German atrocities, particularly in Poland, and wishing to avoid conflict with the Soviet Union. Also includes various cuttings reporting the speech. Part published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6199-201.Notes for WSC's broadcast (19 May, BBC) entitled "Arm yourselves and be ye men of valour" on the war situation in France and the formation of the coalition government,...
Dates:
30 Mar 1940 - 01 Oct 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Unknown
"Their Finest Hour", 18 Jun 1940
Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/140A/32-55
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (18 June) entitled "Their Finest Hour" on subjects including: fighting in France; the importance of unity and respect for government Ministers; preparations, defence and forces for fighting invasion by Germany, the strength of the Royal Navy; the campaign in Norway; forecasting the Battle of Britain and the determination of the RAF; support from the Dominions. He ends "Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and...
Dates:
18 Jun 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 29 Nov 1934
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/48-51
Scope and Contents
Letter from Desmond Morton, Beaufort Gardens, London SW3 to WSC, congratulations on "masterly" speech in the Air debate in the House of Commons. Expressing relief that Stanley Baldwin had pledged not to allow the strength of the RAF to fall below that of Germany. Commenting on Baldwin's statements on the relative strength of the two air forces.
Dates:
29 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 29 Nov 1934
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/52
Scope and Contents
Letter from Colin Coote, The Times, to WSC, congratulations on speech on defence in the House of Commons. Commenting on the absence of any official comment on German dual-purpose aircraft, stating that he disliked the easy assumption that it took months to turn a civilian pilot into a military one "the professional bunkum to which regular officers are all too prone". Stating that during the War he used to be told that it took months to make a machine gunner "but in point of fact anyone of...
Dates:
29 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access:
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), 30 Sep 1935
Item
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
Item
(Untitled), 03 Jan 1941
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/258A/125-131
Scope and Contents
Report by [Lord Justice Sir] John Singleton for WSC marked "Confidential" on means of estimating the strength of the German Air Force and comparing it with the RAF. [Copy].
Dates:
03 Jan 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Found in:
Churchill Archives Centre
/
The Papers of Sir Winston Churchill
/
Chartwell Papers
/
Official: Prime Minister
/
Official: Prime Minister: copies of minutes [mostly from F A Lindemann, later 1st Lord Cherwell, Prime Minister's Personal Assistant] to WSC, some with WSC's annotations added in typescript, numbered [by WSC's literary assistant Denis Kelly, ?at the time of the production of WSC's "Second World War"] with a summary of the contents at the start of each part of the file.
Item
(Untitled), [10] [Jun] [1941]
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/258B/213-214
Scope and Contents
Note [from F A Lindemann, later 1st Lord Cherwell, Prime Minister's Personal Assistant to WSC] giving information on the comparative strengths of the British and German Air Forces in terms of aircraft output and losses and across various theatres. [annotated copy].
Dates:
[10] [Jun] [1941]
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Found in:
Churchill Archives Centre
/
The Papers of Sir Winston Churchill
/
Chartwell Papers
/
Official: Prime Minister
/
Official: Prime Minister: copies of minutes [mostly from F A Lindemann, later 1st Lord Cherwell, Prime Minister's Personal Assistant] to WSC, some with WSC's annotations added in typescript, numbered [by WSC's literary assistant Denis Kelly, ?at the time of the production of WSC's "Second World War"] with a summary of the contents at the start of each part of the file.
Item
(Untitled), 10 Jun 1941
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/258B/215
Scope and Contents
Minute from "F.A.L." [F A Lindemann, later 1st Lord Cherwell, Prime Minister's Personal Assistant] to WSC attaching a note giving a summary of the main figures accepted by the Air Ministry for comparative strengths of the British and German Air Forces [see CHAR 20/258B/213-214] and setting out what he considers several "doubtful" points. Initialled by WSC on 15 June. [Copy; given running number 314B].
Dates:
10 Jun 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Found in:
Churchill Archives Centre
/
The Papers of Sir Winston Churchill
/
Chartwell Papers
/
Official: Prime Minister
/
Official: Prime Minister: copies of minutes [mostly from F A Lindemann, later 1st Lord Cherwell, Prime Minister's Personal Assistant] to WSC, some with WSC's annotations added in typescript, numbered [by WSC's literary assistant Denis Kelly, ?at the time of the production of WSC's "Second World War"] with a summary of the contents at the start of each part of the file.
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
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.
Unknown
"War Cabinet: Chiefs of Staff Committee: Weekly Resume (no.56) of the naval, military and air situation from 12 noon September to 12 noon September 26th, 1940", 27 Sep 1940
Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 23/6/86-99
Scope and Contents
Summary of events including: attempted landing at Dakar by General [Charles] de Gaulle; U boat activity in the North Atlantic and shipping losses; operations by German raiders; information about the disposition of German and Italian troops; events in Greece, Yugoslavia [later Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia], Bulgaria, the Mediterranean and the Middle East; air attacks on Germany (including Berlin) and on invasion ports in France and...
Dates:
27 Sep 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Unknown
"Wars are not won by evacuations", 04 Jun 1940
Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/140A/9-28
Scope and Contents
Typescript copy of notes for WSC's speech on the fall of Belgium and surrender of King [Leopold] of Belgium; the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk [France]; the successes of the RAF; losses of men and weaponry; military development and the possibility of German invasion. Speech includes the phrase "We shall fight on the beaches . . . We shall never surrender".Carbon typescript copy with some manuscript annotations in ink [not by WSC] laid out in "psalm style" apart...
Dates:
04 Jun 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open