On This Day, 1940: On 6 October 1940, the Battle of Britain entered its final phase as Luftwaffe attacks shifted from daylight…
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Dispatches, analysis, long reads and On This Day entries from The RAF Chronicle.
Bomber Command Mid-War Transition: Aircraft, Aids and Weapons
How Bomber Command changed in the middle years of the war through four-engined bombers, navigation aids, target marking and specialised weapons.
Read the article →How the Dowding System Worked in Britain’s Air Defence
How radar, filter rooms, group control and sector stations combined in the Dowding System to defend Britain in…
Battle of Britain Enters Its Final Phase of Night Raids
On 6 October 1940, the Battle of Britain entered its final phase as Luftwaffe attacks shifted from daylight…
Joint Helicopter Command Is Formed as a Tri-Service Command
On 5 October 1999, Joint Helicopter Command was created at Wilton to unify Britain's battlefield helicopter capability in…
10 Squadron Reforms for Duty in the Berlin Airlift
On 4 October 1948, 10 Squadron reformed at RAF Oakington for the Berlin Airlift, later flying from RAF…
RAF Final Cod War Sortie in the 1973 Iceland Dispute
The RAF’s final Cod War sortie on 3 October 1973 marked the end of Britain’s aerial fishery-protection role…
Sopwith Pups Raid German Airfields in Belgium at Night
On 2 October 1917, three Sopwith Pups raided German airfields in Belgium at night, showing how fighter bombing…
Vulcan XA897 Crash Near Heathrow and the Risks of Early V-Force
On 1 October 1956, Vulcan XA897 crashed near Heathrow, killing four crew and exposing the hazards of the…
Allied Air Power Helps Breach the Hindenburg Line in 1918
By 30 September 1918, Allied air power was helping breach the Hindenburg Line through reconnaissance, artillery support and…
Military Aircraft in 1914: Reconnaissance Before Air Power
Why military aircraft in 1914 were valued first for reconnaissance and artillery observation rather than later claims for…
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 Continues Flying Trials
By 29 September 1913, the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 was still in flying trials as Britain searched for…
Inspection Flying Boat Flight Departs Felixstowe in 1928
On 28 September 1928, an RAF inspection flying boat flight left Felixstowe for Malta, Egypt and Iraq, reflecting…
Luftwaffe Suffers Heavy Losses in Major Raids on London
On 27 September 1940, major Luftwaffe raids on London brought one of the Battle of Britain’s costliest days…