Air Ministry
Organization
Found in 25 Collections and/or Records:
File
Literary: correspondence with consultants and others on WSC's war memoirs ("The Second World War", mainly volumes 1 to 4), M-Z., Jan 1942 - Mar 1949
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/23A-B
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Sir Ian Fraser, Chairman of St Dunstan's; Anthony Moir of Fladgate and Company [WSC's solicitor]; Sir Thomas Moore (2); Lord Mountbatten of Burma (3) including (2) on Canada and the Dieppe raid [France]; 1st Lord Camrose [earlier Sir William Berry, Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Telegraph]; Cecil Aspinall-Oglander on 1st Lord Keyes and King Leopold of Belgium; Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall (3); William Deakin (2); Admiral William Leahy, Chief of Staff [to...
Dates:
Jan 1942 - Mar 1949
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Literary: "The Second World War", Volume 1 "The Gathering Storm": Various material., 23 Nov 1934 - 07 Jul 1948
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHUR 4/143A-B
Scope and Contents
Includes notes and correspondence on research and corrections for Volume 1 of "The Second World War", from individuals including: General Alphonse Georges on the French Air Force, 1930 - 1940; Alan Gomme-Duncan [earlier Alan Duncan]; Michael Joy, Foreign Office; Sir Orme Sargent [Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs] on records of Soviet support for the Allies in 1938; Richard Law [later 1st Lord Coleraine] on meetings with WSC concerning Soviet support in 1938; 1st Lord...
Dates:
23 Nov 1934 - 07 Jul 1948
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: Treasury: Cabinet papers and correspondence on efforts to reduce expenditure., 25 Jan 1928 - 17 Feb 1928
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 18/77
Scope and Contents
Includes Cabinet minutes, notes by WSC, and a memorandum by the Minister of Health [Neville Chamberlain]; copy of a letter from WSC to Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin; correspondence and papers from: Prime Minister of Australia [Stanley Bruce]; James Grigg [Principal Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer] (2); Gilbert Upcott [Deputy Controller, Treasury]; 1st Lord Peel [the 1st Commissioner of Works]; Sir Samuel Hoare [Secretary of State for Air, later 1st Lord...
Dates:
25 Jan 1928 - 17 Feb 1928
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Series
Official: War and Air, 1918 - 1921
Series
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 16
Scope and Contents
The War and Air papers contain correspondence, minutes, printed material and other papers which were created or accumulated as a result of WSC's activities as Secretary of State for War and Air, positions he held concurrently from January 1919 to February 1921 (he continued as Secretary of State for Air while Secretary of State for the Colonies until April 1921). The papers have been divided into correspondence, WSC's outgoing minutes, and subject-based files and are arranged...
Dates:
1918 - 1921
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
Official: War and Air: correspondence, mainly on demobilisation and the reorganisation of the Air Ministry., 01 Feb 1919 - 28 Feb 1919
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 16/4
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: King Manuel II on the "future of Portugal"; General Sir William Robertson [General Officer Commanding-in-Chief the Forces in Great Britain] (3); 1st Lord Milner [Secretary of State for the Colonies] on appointing neither Major-General Sir Hugh Trenchard or General Sir John Cowans as Governor of Nigeria (2); Andrew Bonar Law [Lord Privy Seal] passing on a copy of a letter from Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Lawson on a decline in his pay and position; Philip Kerr [later...
Dates:
01 Feb 1919 - 28 Feb 1919
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: War and Air: correspondence, much on the Russian campaign., 01 Aug 1919 - 31 Aug 1919
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 16/10
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: General Sir Henry Wilson [Chief of Imperial General Staff] (4); General Sir William Robertson [Commander-in-Chief, British Army on the Rhine] on his baronetcy; Lord French [earlier Sir John French, later 1st Lord Ypres, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland] on his account of the events of 1914; Major-General John Seely [later 1st Lord Mottistone, Under-Secretary of State for Air] on air force matters and Sir Frederick Banbury's role in the O'Sullivan enquiry (3); Jack Scott...
Dates:
01 Aug 1919 - 31 Aug 1919
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: War and Air: Organisation of the Air Force: correspondence and papers., 13 Dec 1918 - 16 Sep 1919
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 16/1
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: General Sir William Robertson, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief the Forces in Great Britain (2); Sir Arthur Duckham; Brigadier-General William Alexander, Controller of Aircraft Supply and Production; Brigadier-General [John Steel], Director of Air Division, Admiralty; General Sir Henry Wilson, Chief of Imperial General Staff; Major-General Frederick Sykes, Chief of the Air Staff [until February 1919] (2); Major-General John Seely [later 1st Lord Mottistone,...
Dates:
13 Dec 1918 - 16 Sep 1919
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: War and Air: WSC's minutes., 01 Jan 1920 - 29 Apr 1920
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 16/51A-B
Scope and Contents
Includes carbon copies of minutes (and telegrams) from WSC to various individuals including: Secretary [War Office, Sir Reginald Brade]; 1st Lord Peel [Under-Secretary of State for War]; Chief of Imperial General Staff [General Sir Henry Wilson]; Sir Herbert Creedy; Deputy Chief of Imperial General Staff [Major-General Charles Harington]; Chief of the Air Staff [Air-Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard]; Major-General Fabian Ware; [David Lloyd George]; Andrew Bonar Law [Lord Privy Seal]; Director of...
Dates:
01 Jan 1920 - 29 Apr 1920
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: War and Air: WSC's minutes., 01 Apr 1919 - 28 Jun 1919
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 16/16A-B
Scope and Contents
Includes carbon copies of minutes (some annotated in reply) from WSC to various individuals including: Deputy Chief of Imperial General Staff [Major-General Charles Harington]; Director of Military Intelligence [Major-General William Thwaites]; Deputy Director of Military Operations and Military Intelligence [Colonel George Cockerill]; Master-General of the Ordnance [Lieutenant-General Sir William Furse]; Quartermaster-General [Lieutenant-General Travers Clarke]; Secretary [War Office, Sir...
Dates:
01 Apr 1919 - 28 Jun 1919
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: War and Air: WSC's minutes., 01 Sep 1919 - 31 Dec 1919
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 16/18A-B
Scope and Contents
Includes carbon copies of minutes and telegrams (some annotated in reply) from WSC to various individuals including: Air Secretary [Jack Scott]; Chief of the Air Staff [Major-General Sir Hugh Trenchard]; Quartermaster-General [Lieutenant-General Travers Clarke]; Adjutant-General [Lieutenant-General Sir George Macdonogh]; Major-General Sir John Asser [General Officer Commanding British Troops, France and Flanders]; Military Secretary [Lieutenant-General Sir Francis Davies]; Sir Archibald...
Dates:
01 Sep 1919 - 31 Dec 1919
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: War and Air: WSC's minutes., 15 Jan 1919 - 27 Mar 1919
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 16/15A-B
Scope and Contents
Includes carbon copies of minutes (some annotated in reply) from WSC to various individuals including: Secretary [War Office, Sir Reginald Brade]; Chief of Imperial General Staff [General Sir Henry Wilson]; Air Secretary [Jack Scott]; Major-General John Seely [later 1st Lord Mottistone, Under-Secretary of State for Air]; Chief of the Air Staff [Major-General Frederick Sykes, until February 1919; Major-General Sir Hugh Trenchard, from February 1919]; Director of Military Intelligence...
Dates:
15 Jan 1919 - 27 Mar 1919
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Official: War and Air: WSC's minutes., 19 Jun 1919 - 31 Aug 1919
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 16/17A-B
Scope and Contents
Includes carbon copies of minutes (some annotated in reply) from WSC to various individuals including: Air Secretary [Jack Scott]; Secretary [War Office, Sir Reginald Brade]; Chief of Imperial General Staff [General Sir Henry Wilson]; Chief of the Air Staff [Major-General Sir Hugh Trenchard]; Adjutant-General [Lieutenant-General Sir George Macdonogh]; Under-Secretary of State for War [1st Lord Peel]; Deputy Chief of Imperial General Staff [Major-General Charles Harington]; Director of...
Dates:
19 Jun 1919 - 31 Aug 1919
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Air Defence: Wing-Commander Anderson., 20 May 1936 - 24 Nov 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/271
Scope and Contents
Correspondence and notes from Wing-Commander Charles Anderson, Director of Training, Air Ministry, later commander of RAF Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, including: RAF personnel statistics; notes on training Air Observers; a memorandum on RAF training policy in general, including morale, the RAF's function, its readiness for war, reserves, funding, the dangers of over-specialization, the problems of rapid expansion, the shortage and increase in training schools, and specialised training;...
Dates:
20 May 1936 - 24 Nov 1936
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Public and Political: General: Defence: Correspondence etc., 09 Feb 1920 - 28 Dec 1936
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/267
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include: Frederick Beaumont-Nesbitt [Military Attache, Paris, France] on WSC's visit to see French military manoeuvres at Aix-en-Provence and the Maginot Line (2); "George L" [1st Lord Lloyd of Dolobran]; Alan Herbert, introducing Major-General Sir Percy Hobart [Inspector, Royal Tank Corps, and Commander, Tank Brigade] (2); Desmond Morton on subjects including meeting the representative of the Spanish Nationalists, the Marques del Moral, Communist atrocities in Spain, the...
Dates:
09 Feb 1920 - 28 Dec 1936
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
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and source material., 03 Mar 1919 - 15 Dec 1919
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/57
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's statement (3 March) on army estimates, demobilisation, the formation of a regular army, British forces in Russia and the enforcing of peace terms on Germany. Published: Complete Speeches III pp 2674 - 2692.Speech notes for WSC's statement (29 May) on using the army for strike-breaking and sending volunteer forces to Russia. Source material includes a note on the current situation of Admiral Alexander Kolchak [leader of anti-Bolshevik forces], and extracts from a...
Dates:
03 Mar 1919 - 15 Dec 1919
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., 05 May 1938 - 25 May 1938
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/129A-B
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (5 May) on the Eire bill, Britain abandoning rights it had under the 1921 Treaty, and the role of [Eamon] De Valera [Prime Minister of Ireland]. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5948-55.Notes for WSC's speech (25 May) entitled "A private execution" on the replacement of 1st Lord Swinton [earlier Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister and Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame] as Secretary of State for Air, the state of air defence, and setting up a...
Dates:
05 May 1938 - 25 May 1938
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: House of Commons: Speech notes and typescript., 11 Mar 1920 - 15 Dec 1920
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/60
Scope and Contents
Speech notes for WSC's statement (11 March) on the union of the Air and War Ministries, and building up the RAF. Published: Complete Speeches III pp 2965 - 2974.Speech notes and typescript for WSC's statement (23 June) on the need for forces in the Middle East, the situation in the Caucasus, the Crimea [Soviet Union] and Constantinople [later Istanbul, Turkey], and the need for more Territorial and regular army recruitment.Speech notes and typescript for WSC's statement (23 June) on army...
Dates:
11 Mar 1920 - 15 Dec 1920
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
File
Speeches: speech notes and source material., 31 May 1937 - 20 Nov 1937
File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 9/126
Scope and Contents
Notes for WSC's speech (31 May, Caxton Hall [Westminster, Conservative Party meeting]), moving the motion for Neville Chamberlain's [Prime Minister] election to the Conservative Party leadership and praising his achievements as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5856-7.Notes for WSC's speech (11 June, [London] Australia Club Dinner) proposing a toast to the Prime Minister of Australia, Joseph Lyons, and commenting on naval security in the Far East and Singapore....
Dates:
31 May 1937 - 20 Nov 1937
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 10 May 1940
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/11/17-18
Scope and Contents
Letter from King George VI to WSC advising him to reconsider his choice of [1st] Lord Beaverbrook [earlier Sir Max Aitken] for Aircraft Production in the Air Ministry; feels there will be repercussions, especially in Canada where the Air Training Scheme will take place. [manuscript].
Dates:
10 May 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 02 Jun 1940 - 30 Jun 1940
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/13/3
Scope and Contents
Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, June 1940.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; F A Lindemann [later 1st Lord Cherwell] and Desmond Morton [Prime Minister's Personal Assistants].Subjects covered by the minutes include: the evacuation and reconstitution of the British Expeditionary Force;...
Dates:
02 Jun 1940 - 30 Jun 1940
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Unknown
(Untitled), 08 Feb 1919
Unknown
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 16/1/45-50
Scope and Contents
Copy of a letter from WSC to [Walter] Long [later Lord Long, First Lord of the Admiralty] marked "most secret" on subjects including: his intentions toward the Royal Air Force and the Army; the independence of the Air Force and Air Ministry; proposals to enhance the the character of the air force with unique ranks and titles; organisation of the Air Council and proposed appointments.Carbon typescript signed with initials.
Dates:
08 Feb 1919
Conditions Governing Access:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 21 Sep 1939
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 19/2A/38-39
Scope and Contents
Letter from Sir Kingsley Wood [Secretary of State for Air] (Air Ministry) to WSC explaining Air Ministry policy on anti-aircraft responses to hostile activity and allowing authority in this matter to rest with the Commander-in-Chief, Fighter Command [Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding].
Dates:
21 Sep 1939
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open.
Item
(Untitled), 20 Jan 1941 - 21 Jan 1941
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/258A/92
Scope and Contents
Minute from "J.R.C." [John Colville, Prime Minister's Private Secretary] to WSC attaching a minute from "F.A.L." [F A Lindemann, later 1st Lord Cherwell, Prime Minister's Personal Assistant] to WSC on his suggested draft for a note WSC intends to send to the Secretary of State for Air [Sir Archibald Sinclair, later 1st Lord Thurso] about Air Ministry statistics [see CHAR 20/258A/93]. [Copy; given running number 213A].
Dates:
20 Jan 1941 - 21 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.
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