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Royal Air Force

 Organization

Found in 310 Collections and/or Records:

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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), 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), 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 20/249B/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
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(Untitled), 1948

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/251/45
Scope and Contents Bound set of page proofs for a supplement to the London Gazette entitled "Report on the air operations during the campaigns in Malaya [later Malaysia] and Netherland East Indies [later Indonesia] from 8th December, 1941, to 12th March, 1942" reprinting a despatch by Air Vice-Marshal Sir Paul Maltby, former Assistant Air Officer Commanding Far East Command, RAF, and AOC in Java, dated 26 July 1947, with sections on pre-war preparations, a narrative of operations based on Malaya, summaries of...
Dates: 1948
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Sep 1944

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/257/21-22
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC [in North America] to Deputy Prime Minister [Clement Attlee] and others concerned marked "From: Octagon" and "Gunfire No. 231" and "Personal and Top Secret" referring to "Cordite 159" and commenting on arrangements for the release of service personnel, drawing particular attention to the problem of men serving in the Far East and their probability of reemployment in the labour market, and the imprecise nature of the benefits to be given to personnel not serving in the...
Dates: 17 Sep 1944
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 02 Mar 1929

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/164/83-84
Scope and Contents Letter from Sir William Birdwood [later Lord Birdwood] commander in chief in India (Delhi) to WSC expressing regret that he has not been able to see more of Professor Frederick Lindemann [later Lord Cherwell], considering WSC's difficulties in producing an electorally popular Budget, referring to the successful presentation by Sir Felix Schuster of his budget in India, outlining his own plans for the financing of the army in India, describing how he was almost as thankful for the departure...
Dates: 02 Mar 1929
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 Aug 1919

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/106/22-24
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC (War Office) to [David Lloyd George] on the need to form the Cabinet, to tax war profits, to cut Government spending, to define future role of the Army, Navy and Air Force and assign the appropriate resources, to check unnecessary spending by the Admiralty, preferably by bringing the Navy as well as the other two services under a Ministry of Defence. Copy in WSC's hand.

Dates: 04 Aug 1919
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 Mar 1926

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 1/188/16
Scope and Contents

Letter from Air Marshal Sir John Salmond to WSC sending card for his brother-in-law, Matthew Smith's exhibition of paintings, also commenting on the "infantile paralysis" affecting his Home Defence Force.

Dates: 24 Mar 1926
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 06 Jun 1936

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/255/12-13
Scope and Contents

Letter from Robin Grosvenor, Sun Rising House, Banbury, to WSC, stating that he had been offered command of the Nottinghamshire Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, but that it would be difficult to accept because of "finance and distance". Asking if he would be willing to approach "Bend'or", Hugh, 2nd Duke of Westminster for help.

Dates: 06 Jun 1936
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 21 Jul 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/5-6
Scope and Contents

Letter from Air Commodore Peregrine Fellowes, Chester Street, London SW1 to WSC, on forthcoming debate in the House of Commons on the Air Estimates. Asking for meeting to discuss the state of the RAF [signature cut out, with covering note from Violet Pearman].

Dates: 21 Jul 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 26 Jul 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/7-15
Scope and Contents Letter from Air Commodore Peregrine Fellowes, Chester Street, London SW1 to WSC, on the state of civil and military aviation and the RAF. Complaining that British aviation had been in the hands of a "non flying ring", complaining that the Air Council and most of the senior officers in the RAF had not flown as pilots for many years. Stating that there was dissatisfaction in junior ranks because of the "practical ignorance" of their seniors. Praising the efforts of the Secretary of State for...
Dates: 26 Jul 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 31 Jul 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/16
Scope and Contents

Letter from Sir Abe Bailey, Bryanston Square, London, W1 to WSC, congratulations on "air speech", defending the Government's decision to increase the size of the RAF, in the House of Commons, also praising Stanley Baldwin's speech in the same debate.

Dates: 31 Jul 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 01 Aug 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/17-18
Scope and Contents

Letter from Lord Rothermere, Burghfield House, Dornoch, Sutherland, to WSC, on his speech in air debate in the House of Commons. Asking where he obtained the information that Germany would only have "a few hundred aeroplanes" by the end of 1935. Stating that his information was that they would have a force of around 20,000 aircraft by that date "Is everybody in this country blind?".

Dates: 01 Aug 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 06 Aug 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/19-22
Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to Lord Rothermere, on his sources of information for the size of the German air force. Stating that he believed that the Germans had a regular military air force, in violation of the treaty, of 300 aircraft, against Britain's home defence force of 350 aircraft, and that the Germans were increasing this total to 500 by the end of 1935. These figures took no account of German civil aviation, which was five times the size of Britain's, a large part of which was rapidly...
Dates: 06 Aug 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 18 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/31-33
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to David Margesson, Government Chief Whip, sending House of Commons Amendment to the Address representing that the strength of British Air defences was "no longer adequate to secure the peace, safety and freedom of Your Majesty's faithful subjects" signed by WSC, Sir Robert Horne, Leo Amery, Frederick Guest, Lord Winterton and Robert Boothby.

Dates: 18 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Nov 1934

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/228/34
Scope and Contents Letter from H A Gwynne, The Morning Post, London, to WSC, on his Amendment to the Address on the inadequacy of Britain's air defence. Stating that it was very unfair that the Labour Party should be allowed to pose as pacifists when the question of building of defences was discussed. Suggesting that he "call their bluff", and ask them directly "Are you in favour of Hitler and all he stands for, or are you not? If you are not, then you must support my Amendment. If you are, then have the...
Dates: 20 Nov 1934
Conditions Governing Access: Open