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Royal Air Force

 Organization

Found in 310 Collections and/or Records:

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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), 20 Jun 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/76/138
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC marked "private and most secret" complaining about the campaign in the British press attributing the deteriorating situation in Libya to the failure of the RAF to support the Army and the Malta convoys.

Dates: 20 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 28 Jun 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/34-36
Scope and Contents Telegram from the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC marked "personal and most secret" reporting on the battle in North Africa: States that General Claude Auchinleck [Commander in Chief Middle East] is telegraphing him directly and regularly from Eighth Army Headquarters; comments on Auchinleck's plan of campaign ; states that the battle will be a mobile one fought between Matruh [Egypt] and El Alamein [Egypt] and southwards to the Qattara depression [Egypt];...
Dates: 28 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 30 Jun 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/47
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC marked "personal and most secret" reporting on the latest situation in Egypt and commenting on RAF mobilisation, arrangements for the defence of the Delta, and the plans of Admiral Henry Harwood [Commander in Chief Mediterranean] for supporting the Eighth Army and evacuating merchant shipping from Alexandria [Egypt].

Dates: 30 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 30 Jun 1942 - 01 Jul 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/49
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC suggesting that the Royal Air Force concentrate its maximum bombing force against the German army and ports in North Africa instead of bombing towns in Germany.

Dates: 30 Jun 1942 - 01 Jul 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 04 Jul 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/67
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Air Chief Marshal Arthur Tedder [Air Officer Commander in Chief Mediterranean] praising the role of the Royal Air Force in the battle for Egypt: "The days of the Battle of Britain are being repeated far from home.".

Dates: 04 Jul 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 05 Jul 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/71
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Air Marshal Arthur Tedder [Air Officer Commander in Chief Mediterranean] to WSC marked "personal" thanking him for his inspiring message: "All of us are determined to do our utmost and more to help the Army to clear the enemy out of Africa.".

Dates: 05 Jul 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 04 Oct 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/80/118
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to Minister Resident in West Africa [Lord Swinton, earlierPhilip Cunliffe-Lister] marked "personal and most secret": expressing pleasure that he has been able to reach agreement locally on the policy for defence of aerodromes; commenting on the training of local RAF station personnel by British army personnel; referring to the need to give a high priority to the passage of RAF personnel required for the depots and staging points on the Takoradi route [Gold Coast, later...
Dates: 04 Oct 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 09 Oct 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/81/37
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Minister Resident in west Africa [Lord Swinton, earlier Philip Lloyd Greame and Philip Cunliffe Lister] to WSC marked "most secret" regarding the use of the Royal Air Force Regiment: states that the RAF Regiment personnel already here should be sufficient to train station personnel providing they are themselves sufficiently trained to act as instructors; comments on importance of supervisory personnel for air route construction.

Dates: 09 Oct 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 22 Oct 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/81/86
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Air Marshal Arthur Tedder [Air Officer Commanding in Chief Middle East] to WSC marked "important most secret" thanking him for his message: "Have just visited my squadrons whose battle of course has already begun. They are fighting fit and determined to clean up this affair.".

Dates: 22 Oct 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 24 Oct 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/81/99
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Resident Minister in West Africa [Lord Swinton, earlier Philip Lloyd Greame and Philip Cunliffe Lister] marked "most secret" informing him of details of the arrival of the British Catalina Squadron in West Africa and the American B.24's on Ascension Island.

Dates: 24 Oct 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 29 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/126-129
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding bombing: states that bombing attacks are being made on U-boat nests and reports a successful raid on Lubeck [Germany]; comments on the policy of menacing U-boats in the Bay of Biscay and his keenness to add six bomber squadrons to this new Biscay patrol; comments on the need to bomb Germany and on a structural defect to the wing tip of Lancasters which requires the laying up of four squadrons; appeals that...
Dates: 29 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 01 Apr 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/73/13-14
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] commenting on the heavy enemy air attack against Malta and British difficulties in providing adequate Spitfire reinforcements; asks that the United States aircraft carrier Wasp be used to take Spitfires from the Clyde [Scotland] to Malta and suggests the third week of April.

Dates: 01 Apr 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 13 Apr 1942

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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
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(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), 20 Jul 1943

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/94A/33-34
Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to Sir Archibald Sinclair [later 1st Lord Thurso, Secretary of State for Air] marked "Secret" stating: that he hopes that he is not refusing to allow the War Cabinet to inquire into the use of manpower in the Royal Air Force; that a similar examination has already been carried out about eight months ago; that he has received a letter from A V Alexander [later Lord Alexander of Hillsborough, the First Lord of the Admiralty] saying that the Admiralty would welcome an inquiry on...
Dates: 20 Jul 1943
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open.
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(Untitled), 01 May 1945 - 31 May 1945

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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.
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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), 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