Armed forces
Found in 982 Collections and/or Records:
(Untitled), 26 Sep 1935
Letter from Lord Winterton (Shillinglee Park, Chiddingfold) to WSC, reporting conversations with Sir Robert Horne and Leo Amery on defence. Stating that Amery had most disquieting news that the "havering and incapacity" at the Air Ministry was just as bad as under the former Minister [Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister had replaced Lord Londonderry in June]. Suggesting a deputation to the Prime Minister [Stanley Baldwin] asking him to investigate the rumours about the state of the Ministry.
(Untitled), 26 Sep 1935
Letter from WSC to Lord Winterton (Shillinglee Park, Chiddingfold), stating that he had been invited to serve on the Air Defence Research Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, but that he remained free to criticise air policy and air strength. Agreeing that the condition of the Air Ministry was unsatisfactory, and Britain was falling further and further behind Germany. Suggesting a meeting to discuss a deputation to the Prime Minister.
(Untitled), 30 Sep 1935
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.
(Untitled), 07 Mar 1936
Copy of a letter from WSC to [Pierre] Flandin [Minister of State, France] marked "confidential" asking for French information about the present strength of the German Air Force, predicting 2,000 aircraft by the end of 1936, and asking for information about French expenditure on aviation services for use in debates in Parliament.Carbon typescript. Unsigned.
(Untitled), 13 Apr 1936
Copy of a letter from WSC to Eleanor Rathbone MP marked "private" enclosing a paper by Sir Henry Strakosch, explaining the basis for his figures for German expenditure [on rearmament], his use of confidential sources and his efforts "to find out the truth". He concludes "We really are in great danger."Unsigned carbon typescript.
(Untitled), 06 Apr 1939
Copy of a letter from WSC to Colonel Sir Donald Banks thanking him for the notification of his appointment as Honorary Air Commodore of No. 615 (County of Surrey) (Fighter) Squadron [Auxiliary Air Force] and saying that he will be glad to hear how he can be of service.Unsigned carbon typescript.
(Untitled), 27 Mar 1939
Letter from the Air Ministry (Adastral House, Kingsway [London]) to WSC informing him of his appointment as Honorary Air Commodore of No. 615 (County of Surrey) (Fighter) Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force and of the Air Council's pleasure at WSC's association with the Auxiliary Air Force.Signed typescript.
(Untitled), 27 Jun 1942
Telegram from WSC to Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] marked "most secret" regarding the diversion of 42 tropicalized spitfires assigned to Australia to the Middle East and commenting on the effect of Japanese losses at the battle of Midway on the imminence of the threat to Australia.
(Untitled), 29 Jun 1942
Telegram from Middle East Defence Committee to WSC and Chiefs of Staff marked "most secret and personal" regarding their urgent need for Boston aircraft and requesting permission to appropriate 50 of these aircraft from Basra [Iraq] where they are waiting collection by the Russians.
(Untitled), 30 Jun 1942
Telegram from John Curtin (Prime Minister of Australia) to WSC marked "most secret" agreeing to diversion of Spitfires to the Middle East but expressing disappointment and stressing that the delay should not be allowed to intefere with the quota for monthly wastage.
(Untitled), 01 Jul 1942
Telegram from Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC marked "personal and most secret" asking for his help in getting the Boston aircraft from Basra [Iraq] for use in Egypt.
(Untitled), 03 Jul 1942
Telegram from WSC to Evatt [Australian Minister for External Affairs and Attorney General] apologising for the delay in the provision of Spitfires to Australia.
(Untitled), 03 Jul 1942
Telegram from WSC to John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] thanking him for his agreement regarding the diversion of 42 Spitfires to the Middle East but asking him to accept the July allocation for wastage in two instalments.
(Untitled), 04 Jul 1942
Telegram from WSC to President Roosevelt regarding the urgent need for Boston bomber aircraft in the Middle East and asking for permission to have the forty Bostons in Basra [Iraq] which were en route to the Soviet Union.
(Untitled), 06 Jul 1942
Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander in Chief India] marked "personal and secret" questioning Wavell's reasons for delaying offensive operations from India and his request for 1150 first-line aircraft.
(Untitled), 07 Jul 1942
Telegram from John Curtin (Prime Minister of Australia) to WSC marked "most secret" accepting WSC's amended proposals regarding the monthly delivery of Spitfires and describing Japanese raid no. 67 on Port Moresby [Papua New Guinea] on 4 July.
(Untitled), 07 Jul 1942
Telegram from President Roosevelt to WSC confirming that Stalin has no objection to the transfer of the forty Bostons from Basra [Iraq] to Egypt and that instructions have gone forward to transfer the planes at once.
(Untitled), 08 Jul 1942
(Untitled), 09 Jul 1942
Telegram from WSC to Premier Stalin thanking him for consenting to the transfer of the 40 Boston bombers from Basra [Iraq] to Egypt.
(Untitled), 09 Jul 1942
Telegram from WSC to President Roosevelt thanking him for arranging the transfer of the 40 Boston bombers from Basra [Iraq] to Egypt.
(Untitled), 09 Jul 1942
Telegram from Evatt [Australian Minister of External Affairs and Attorney General] marked "most secret" to WSC thanking him for his "thoughtful wire", commenting on plan to provide Spitfires for Australia, and stating that a black swan has been allocated to WSC and will arrive after plumage attaches itself in August.
(Untitled), 14 Jul 1942
(Untitled), 04 Oct 1942
(Untitled), 03 Oct 1942
Telegram from Premier Stalin to WSC marked "personal and secret" informing him of the deterioration of the situation in the Stalingrad area [Soviet Union] since the beginning of September, due to German air superiority, and asking for supplies of fighter aircraft from Great Britain and the United States. Claims that Germany are manufacturing not less than 2500 combat aircraft a month, far more than the 1300 suggested by British intelligence.
(Untitled), 06 Oct 1942
Telegram from WSC to President Roosevelt marked "personal and secret" reciting text of telegram from Stalin to WSC regarding the deterioration of the situation at Stalingrad [Soviet Union] and requesting supplies of fighter aircraft from Great Britain and the United States [see CHAR 20/80/126-127].