Royal Air Force
Organization
Found in 310 Collections and/or Records:
File
Public and Political: General: Political: correspondence and papers on defence, atomic weapons and energy., Nov 1945 - Apr 1954
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 2/28
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Prime Minister Clement Attlee (6); Anthony Eden [later 1st Lord Avon] on the strength of the army and RAF; [1st] Lord Cherwell [earlier F A Lindemann] (3); President Harry Truman (2); Walter Gifford, United States Ambassador to Great Britain. Also includes notes and copies of correspondence from WSC's secretaries "N S" [Jo Sturdee, later Lady Onslow], "J P" [Jane Portal, later Lady Williams of Elvel], "L M M" [Lettice Marston, later Lettice Shillingford], and "C G"...
Dates:
Nov 1945 - Apr 1954
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.
File
Public and Political: General: Political: correspondence and papers on Palestine., Aug 1946 - Oct 1951
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 2/46A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Henry Hopkinson [later 1st Lord Colyton, Head of Conservative Parliamentary Secretariat and Joint Director, Conservative Research Department] (3); Paul Beards [Assistant Private Secretary to Prime Minister Clement Attlee]; Clement Attlee; John Addis [Junior Private Secretary to Attlee]; Major Henry Legge-Bourke; Patrick Buchan-Hepburn [later 1st Lord Hailes, Conservative Chief Whip] (2); Marcus Sieff (8); James de Rothschild; Duncan Sandys; Walter Elliot (2); Leo...
Dates:
Aug 1946 - Oct 1951
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Political: Correspondence P - S., 13 May 1950 - 17 Feb 1959
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 2/130A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Ernest Marples, Postmaster General; Eugene Spier, on writing a history of the Focus luncheon meetings and combating the continuing influence of Hitler in Germany (7); Richard Greville, Personal Assistant to the Chairman, Conservative and Unionist Central Office (6); Edward Given, Foreign Office, on WSC's New Year message to Poland; Henry Price (2); Sir Clive Morrison-Bell on proportional representation; Julian Ridsdale; John Rodgers; George Beck, Bishop of Brentwood...
Dates:
13 May 1950 - 17 Feb 1959
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Political: Correspondence T-Z., Nov 1947 - Dec 1948
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 2/72A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Iain MacLeod, Conservative Parliamentary Secretariat, on the position of graduate teachers (2); Emanuel Shinwell, Secretary of State for War, (2) and Arthur Henderson [later Lord Rowley], Secretary of State for Air, (2) on recruitment for service auxiliaries and reserves; James Thomas [later 1st Lord Cilcennin, Vice- Chairman of Conservative and Unionist Party] (2); Colin Thornton-Kemsley (2); Reginald Maudling; 6th Lord De L'Isle and Dudley [earlier William Sidney,...
Dates:
Nov 1947 - Dec 1948
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Political: correspondence with the Conservative Research Department concerning the RAF., Feb 1950 - Feb 1951
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 2/33
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Harold MacMillan [later 1st Lord Stockton]; Air Vice-Marshal Henry Thornton; [Arthur] Vere Harvey [later Lord Harvey of Prestbury]. Also includes notes and copies of correspondence from secretaries Jo Sturdee ("N S") [later Lady Onslow], Chips Gemmell, and Jane Portal [later Lady Williams of Elvel].Subjects include: aircraft carriers; anti-submarine warfare, including details of the Lockheed Neptune "sub-killer"; amphibious landings.Also includes: details of carriers...
Dates:
Feb 1950 - Feb 1951
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Political: Defence - correspondence with Prime Minister Clement Attlee., Mar 1946 - Aug 1950
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 2/29A-B
Scope and Contents
Other correspondents include: Oliver Lyttelton [later 1st Lord Chandos]; Anthony Eden [later 1st Lord Avon] (2); A V Alexander [later Lord Alexander of Hillsborough] on Czechoslovak railways; Francis Graham-Harrison, Laurence Pumphrey (2), and Paul Osmond, Private Secretaries to the Prime Minister; Laurence Helsby [Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister]; Antony Head (2); 1st Lord Cherwell [earlier F A Lindemann]; Clement Davies [Leader of the Liberal Party]. Also includes notes...
Dates:
Mar 1946 - Aug 1950
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Political: Defence: miscellaneous correspondence and papers., Feb 1947 - Sep 1951
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 2/36
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: A V Alexander [later Lord Alexander of Hillsborough], Minister of Defence [until February 1950] (3); George Ward; Antony Head (3); Arthur Henderson [later Lord Rowley, Secretary of State for Air]; 1st Lord Cherwell [earlier F A Lindemann] (2); Anthony Eden [later 1st Lord Avon]; David Hunt [Private Secretary to Prime Minister Clement Attlee] (2); Captain Alan Hillgarth [earlier Alan Evans] on Soviet forces in Europe and Soviet affairs (7); James Thomas [later 1st Lord...
Dates:
Feb 1947 - Sep 1951
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Private and Personal: Correspondence E - M., 09 Feb 1944 - 02 Jan 1946
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 2/141A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Anthony Eden on not accepting the order of the garter, building up the Conservative Front Bench and broadening the party's appeal (2); Dwight Eisenhower [Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force in Western Europe] on finding United States accommodation for WSC on the Riviera [France] and on a statement concerning the crisis in January 1945 over pulling troops out of Alsace (3); Frank Cook [Charge d'Affaires, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia] on the gift of a picture from...
Dates:
09 Feb 1944 - 02 Jan 1946
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Private and Personal: Correspondence T - Z., 29 Jan 1945 - 20 Dec 1948
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 2/157A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Sir Robert Tasker; General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, apologizing for missing WSC's visit to Metz [France]; Charles Taylor [MP for Eastbourne]; Myron Taylor; James Thomas [later 1st Lord Cilcennin, MP for Hereford and Vice-Chairman, Conservative and Unionist Party] (3); "Tommy", Charles Thompson [former Personal Assistant to WSC] on subjects including applying for a post at the Jockey Club, and books and photographs for WSC (9); 6th Lord Rosebery [earlier Lord...
Dates:
29 Jan 1945 - 20 Dec 1948
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm., 11 Feb 1936 - 21 Dec 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/272
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: 1st Lord Lloyd [of Dolobran, President of the Navy League] on WSC speaking to the League (2); Sir John Thornycroft [President and Director, J I Thornycroft and Company Limited] on his firm's designs for an aircraft carrier and anti-submarine craft and cuts in the shipbuilding industry (with a description of the anti-submarine craft); Maitland Boucher [former member of the Naval Air Division] on meeting WSC about the Fleet Air Arm (3); Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald...
Dates:
11 Feb 1936 - 21 Dec 1936
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
Recording of Winston Churchill's speech on opening 615 Squadron's new headquarters in Tavistock Road, Croydon, 1948-10-05
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/WCHL 3/17/1
Scope and Contents
Recording made by Dr Manning, the Medical Officer of 615 Squadron.
Dates:
1948-10-05
Conditions Governing Access:
Access copy available.
Sub-Series
Royal Air Force, 1926 - 1976
Sub-Series
Reference Code: GBR/0014/WHTL A.41-A.68
Scope and Contents
From the Fonds:
The collection held at Churchill Archives Centre includes biographical material; research and development; publications; lectures and broadcasts; vists and conferences; societies and organisations; correspondence and non-textual material.
Dates:
1926 - 1976
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
With the exception of WHTL A.334, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
File
Royal Air Force in maritime war, 1950-08 - 1960-08
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/ROSK 5/136
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
Papers used in the official naval history of the Second World War. Many files contain later transcripts of wartime documents
Dates:
1950-08 - 1960-08
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
Fonds
Selected Correspondence of Marshal of the RAF 1st Lord Trenchard
Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0014/TREN
Scope and Contents
Xeroxed material used by Captain Stephen Roskill for his book "Hankey, Man of Secrets", consisting of Trenchard's correspondence with Winston Churchill, 1st Lord Hankey and Sir Samuel Wilson over air defence, particularly as relating to naval forces, and papers on his agreement with Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes over relations between the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.
Dates:
1919 - 1949
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
Found in:
Churchill Archives Centre
File
Speeches: House of Commons and Non-House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., Apr 1951 - 28 Sep 1951
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 5/42A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (3 July, Grosvenor House Hotel [London]) at the English Speaking Union dinner for General Dwight Eisenhower, on the English Speaking Union as a foundation for peace and an advance towards a united Europe.Speech notes and typescript for WSC's speech (10 July, Royal College of Physicians [London]) entitled "Lord Moran" (for the presentation of his portrait to 1st Lord Moran [earlier Charles Wilson, former President, Royal College of Physicians]), on subjects...
Dates:
Apr 1951 - 28 Sep 1951
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons and Non-House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 06 Nov 1951 - 22 Dec 1951
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 5/45A-C
Scope and Contents
Speech notes and extract from Hansard for WSC's speech (6 November, House of Commons) for the debate on the address, on subjects including: the political divisions in the country; the charge of war-mongering laid against the Conservatives, and the need for steady government; the restoration of university representation in Parliament; the repeal of the Iron and Steel Nationalization Act; future parliamentary business, including the defence debate; keeping the Minister of Education out of the...
Dates:
06 Nov 1951 - 22 Dec 1951
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons and Non-House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 01 Jul 1952 - 20 Sep 1952
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 5/48A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (1 July, House of Commons) entitled "The Korean War" on subjects including the early demoralization of Communist forces in Korea, then the success of their negotiations and rebuilt forces; the heavy costs suffered by Britain and the United States during the armistice; harm caused by anti-American feeling in Parliament; the treatment and exchange of prisoners of war, including forcing anti-Communist soldiers to return to China or North Korea; Labour's motion of...
Dates:
01 Jul 1952 - 20 Sep 1952
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 23 May 1940 - 04 Jul 1940
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/140A-B
Scope and Contents
Statement by WSC (23 May) on fighting in France. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Published: Complete Speeches VI p 6223.Hansard copy of statement by WSC (28 May) on the fall of Belgium. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6223-4.Notes for WSC's speech (4 June) entitled "Wars are not won by evacuations" on the fall of Belgium, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk [France] and the successes of the RAF. Speech includes the phrase "We shall fight on the...
Dates:
23 May 1940 - 04 Jul 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 30 Jul 1940 - 17 Sep 1940
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/141A-B
Scope and Contents
Statement by WSC (30 July) on making the remainder of the day's sitting a secret session. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard.Statement by WSC (17 September, secret session) on the danger to the Houses of Parliament posed by air raids and possible changes to House of Commons procedures as a consequence of this threat. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6280-3.Hansard copy of WSC's statement (13 August) on an aeroplane disaster involving Australian ministers and military...
Dates:
30 Jul 1940 - 17 Sep 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 08 Oct 1940 - 19 Dec 1940
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/142A-B
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (8 October) on the Battle of Britain, the Home Guard and the Home Front, Hitler's threat to invade Britain, events at Dakar [Senegal], the desertion of Vichy France, the Burma road [between Burma, later Myanmar, and China] and events in Spain. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6284-94.Notes for WSC's statement (17 October) on Robert Boothby [Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Food] and Czechoslovak claims.Notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on the war situation,...
Dates:
08 Oct 1940 - 19 Dec 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: speech notes and other material., 09 Jul 1941 - 01 Oct 1941
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/148A-B
Scope and Contents
Hansard copies of WSC's statements (9 July) on the occupation of Iceland by United States troops, the appeal for arms from Eire (Southern Ireland [Ireland]) to the United States, and British losses in Syria. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6446-7.Notes for WSC's statement (15 July) on the production debate, the Anglo-Soviet Agreement against Germany, its effect on Poland, and the end of the Syrian campaign. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Part published: Complete Speeches...
Dates:
09 Jul 1941 - 01 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 23 May 1940 - 19 Jun 1940
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/172
Scope and Contents
Statement by WSC (23 May) on fighting in France. Published: Complete Speeches VI p 6223.Statement by WSC (28 May) on the fall of Belgium. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6223-4.Speech notes for WSC's speech (4 June) entitled "Wars are not won by evacuations" on the fall of Belgium, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk [France] and the successes of the RAF. Speech includes the phrase "We shall fight on the beaches . . . We shall never surrender". Source material...
Dates:
23 May 1940 - 19 Jun 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 25 Jun 1940 - 21 Nov 1941
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/173A-B
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (25 June) entitled "The fall of France" on the capitulation of France, the surrender of the French fleet to Germany and his visit to see [Paul] Reynaud [Prime Minister of France]. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6239-41.Statement by WSC (4 July) on the British destruction of the French fleet at Oran [Algeria]. Source material includes notes on the co-ordination of intelligence, the role of the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces [General Sir Alan Brooke,...
Dates:
25 Jun 1940 - 21 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 05 Sep 1940 - 08 Oct 1940
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/174A-C
Scope and Contents
Statement by WSC (5 September) on the war situation and an agreement with the United States over destroyers and defence bases, events in Romania, the achievements of the RAF, damage through bombing and the insurance scheme, evacuation, air raid warnings and other Home Front issues. Source material includes: notes and correspondence from Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse [Vice-Chief of Air Staff], Norman Brook [later 1st Lord Normanbrook] (2), Arthur Cary [Assistant Principal, Air Ministry] (4),...
Dates:
05 Sep 1940 - 08 Oct 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 05 Nov 1940 - 19 Dec 1940
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/175
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on the war situation including the air battles, the bombing of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, the threat posed by U Boats, the possibility of invasion by Germany, civil defence and the Home Guard, affairs in Egypt and the Middle East, and the Italian invasion of Greece. Source material includes correspondence from 1st Lord Beaverbrook [earlier Max Aitken, Minister for Aircraft Production], Henry Strutt [Assistant Under-Secretary of...
Dates:
05 Nov 1940 - 19 Dec 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open