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RAF Stories

Discover RAF Stories which expand and enrich our understanding of the RAF today.

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Time period

WWI Interwar WWII Post WWII 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Contemporary

I’m in the mood for…

Angry Sad Humour Wow Love

Values

Heroism Compassion Discipline Family Friendship Service Leadership Integrity Commitment Teamwork Pride Justice Spirituality Responsibility Honesty Excellence Courage Respect Loyalty

Themes

Parenthood Deployment Training Female Experience Black Experience Flying Teenage Experience Travel Terrorism Leave Pets BAME Experience Religion Friendship Disability Career POW Death Asian Experience LGBT Experience Achievement Technology Duty Injury Bravery Joining up Plane spotting Life on base Hobbies Sport Weather Failure Defense Inspiration Jewish Experience

Technology

Aircraft Technologies
- Lockheed Hercules Series (RAF)
- North American Mustang (Mark unknown)
- Avro Lancaster (Mark unknown)
- Westland Sea King Series
- British Aircraft Corporation TSR.2
- Bristol Beaufighter (Mark unknown)
- English Electric Canberra Series
- Panavia Tornado (Mark unknown)
- Hawker-Siddeley Harrier GR.1
- Hawker Hurricane (Mark unknown)
- Armstrong Whitworth Whitley (Mark unknown)
- Bristol Blenheim (Mark unknown)
- Vickers Wellington Mk. I
- Handley Page Hampden (Mark unknown)
- Handley Page Hampden Mk. I
- Handley Page Halifax GR.V
- Handley Page Hastings Series
- Short Sunderland (Mark unknown)
- Sepecat Jaguar
- Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4
- Blackburn B-101 Beverley
- Vickers Vimy Series
- De Havilland Mosquito Series
- De Havilland D.H.71 Tiger Moth
- McDonnell Douglas Phantom (Mark unknown)
- British Aircraft Corporation Jet Provost (Mark unknown)
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II (Mark unknown)
- Avro Lancaster Mk. I (Special)
- Avro Lancaster Mk. I (Special)
- Handley Page Halifax Mk. II
- Handley Page Halifax Series
- Westland Sea King HAR.3
- Sopwith 2F.1 Camel
- Supermarine Spitfire (Mark unknown)
- Vickers Wellington (Mark unknown)
- Panavia Tornado GR.1
- Sepecat Jaguar GR.3A
- Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II
- Westland Sea King (Mark unknown)
- Lockheed Hercules C.1
- Avro Lancaster (Mark unknown)
- (By Manufacturer [T to Z])
- Hawker-Siddeley Harrier GR.3
- Lockheed-Martin F-35C Lightning II
- Panavia Tornado Series
- Supermarine Spitfire (Mark unknown)
- Avro Lincoln (Mark unknown)
- Avro Lincoln (Mark unknown)
- General Dynamics F-111 (Mark unknown)
- Short Belfast
- Handley Page Hampden Series
- Bristol Blenheim Mk. IV
- Vickers Wellington Mk. IC
- British Aircraft Corporation Lightning T.5
- De Havilland D.H.9A (Mark unknown)
- Avro Lancaster Series
- Hawker-Siddeley Harrier (Mark unknown)
- Avro York (Mark unknown)
- Douglas Dakota (Mark unknown)
- Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon
- Messerschmitt Me 262B (Mark unknown)
- Handley Page Halifax (Mark unknown)

RAF Ranks

Flight Officer Sergeant Flight Lieutenant Clerk 1st Class Squadron Leader Acting Squadron Leader Captain Senior Aircraftman Warrant Officer Flight Sergeant First Lieutenant Aircraftman Class I Cadet Flying Officer Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Warrant Officer Group Captain Flight Sergeant Wing Commander Flight Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Major General Air Commodore Chief Technician Pilot Officer Pilot Officer Sergeant Pilot Leading Aircraftwoman Squadron Leader Pilot II

Units

13 Bomb Disposal Section 1 Squadron, RAF Regiment 148 Squadron 11 Operational Training Unit 4 Squadron Far East Air Force Queen's Colour Squadron, RAF Regiment 11 Squadron RAF Odiham Station Flight 514 Squadron 617 Squadron 230 Squadron 15 Bomb Disposal Squad 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit 1 (LAA) Wing, RAF Regiment 5003 Airfield Construction Squadron 50 Squadron 144 Squadron 54 Squadron 602 Squadron 271 Squadron 37 Squadron, RAF Regiment 158 Squadron

RAF Stations

RAF Akrotiri RAF Biggin Hill RAF Compton Bassett RAF Gütersloh RAF Cottesmore RAF Scampton RAF Lichfield RAF El Adem RAF Wilmslow RAF Boscombe Down RAF Duxford RAF Aldergrove RAF Finningley RAF Kenley RAF Coningsby RAF Halton RAF Brize Norton RAF Bridgnorth RAF Cranwell RAF Eastleigh RAF Honington RAF Driffield RAF Cosford RAF Oakington RAF Waddington RAF Blackpool RAF Lindholme RAF Benson RAF Colerne RAF Warmwell RAF Burtonwood RAF Warboys RAF Lossiemouth RAF Kai Tak RAF Squire's Gate

Military Events

British Ground Operations In Iraq, 2003 to date Gulf War, 1990-1991 Battle of Britain, 1940 Occupation of France, 1940-1944 Cold War, 1946-1989 Lancaster Attack on Tirpitz, October 1944 Herrick, 2002-2014 Malaya Campaign, 1941-1945 Battle of Arnhem, 1944 Attack on Ceylon, 1942 Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 Catechism, 1944 Telic, 2003 Operations in Afghanistan, 2001 to date Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003 Falklands Conflict, 1982 Bombing of Germany, 1939-1945 Blitz, The, 1940-1941 Allied Air Operations Over Iraq, 2003 Battle of Dunkirk, 1940 Allied Air Operations Over Iraq, 1991-2003 Battle of Atlantic, 1939-1945 Bombing of United Kingdom, 1939-1945 France Campaigns, 1939-1945 Bosnia War, 1993 to date Berlin Airlift, 1948-1949 Blockade of Berlin, 1948-1949 Attacks on France, 1939-1945 Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939 Attacks on Belgium, 1939-45 D-Day, 6 June 1944 Manna, 1945 (Netherlands) Invasion of Poland, 1939 Fall of Java, March 1942

Partners

World Fuel Services
BAE Systems
RAFA
Northrop Grumman
MBDA
Rolls-Royce
RAFMAF
Chelsea FC Foundation

Jewish Hidden Heroes

During the Second World War, some 20,000 Jewish men and women from all over the world joined Britain’s Royal Air Force to fight against tyranny, racism and anti-Semitism.

For too long the RAF’s Jewish personnel have been ‘Hidden Heroes’, their exploits unknown. The RAF Museum has developed the ‘Hidden Heroes’ project to raise awareness about the untold story of Jewish personnel in the RAF during the Second World War and the vital role they played.

This project is supported by Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea Football Club Foundation.

Three and a half years of Hell
John Fisher
Only four of the crew came back
Keith Palmer
The South China Sea was rife with pirates
The Dutch were starving under German occupation
A specialist in codes and ciphers
They crashed into the sea off the Dutch coast
Joan was at the heart of the Battle of Britain
Joshua Levine
The Germans never knew his true identity
Joshua Levine
303 Squadron wasn't the same after the Battle of Britain
Max Moray
All the Jewish guys ended up eating bacon
Max Moray
Germany was not a place for Jewish people
Milton Brazil
The most evil doctrine
Alfred Huberman
What the hell are you doing here? You're a pilot!
Max Moray
I was a bit worried about my eyes
Benny Goodman
I was captain of the aircraft with no operational experience at all
Benny Goodman
It felt as if war was imminent. And we were very scared of that
Ralph Levy
The Tirpitz represented a threat to the whole Atlantic Ocean
Benny Goodman
They had never met a Jewish boy before
Ralph Levy
Without the Mulberry D-Day couldn't have gone ahead
Ralph Levy
The bombing had taken its toll. There wasn't much left
Ralph Levy
The German's acted as if they'd won the war
Ralph Levy
The worst experience I ever had
Alfred Huberman
My first operation was an absolute flop
Alfred Huberman
Fog was a real bloody nuisance
Alfred Huberman
Skipper! Quick - dive!
Alfred Huberman
It was like someone sticking a knife into me
Max Moray

The RAF LGBT+ Freedom Network

In the year 2000, the ban stopping LGBT+ people from serving in the British Armed Forces was lifted. To mark LGBT+ History month, 20 years after this ban was lifted, hear from a collection of people who were affected by this policy, and from those who are now able to openly serve in the Royal Air Force.

Coming out was a massive weight off my mind
Cpl Owain Bridge
There's no reason to hide anymore
Cpl Mike Taylor
It took a long time but the changes have been amazing
Cpl Mike Taylor
The LGBT+ Freedom Network has gone from strength to strength
Sqn Ldr Catherine Lawson
I kept a side of my life hidden away
Cpl Mike Taylor
Coming out was a massive weight off my mind
Cpl Owain Bridge
Trump is wrong.
Ayla Holdom
I was proud to receive a Commendation for my work
Cpl Owain Bridge
I didn't want to be the butt of people's jokes
Cpl Owain Bridge
It's about showing solidarity
Owain Bridge
You can't be what you can't see
The military is more reflective of society
Cpl Owain Jones
It was starting to tear me apart
Cpl Mike Taylor
The squadron gay
Conner Thirkill
It doesn't matter who you are
Connor Thirkill
Some people still don't know that it's fully accepted
Connor Thirkill
People stopped swearing. It made no sense at all.
Ayla Holdom
I was slightly terrified of coming out
Connor Thirkill
The RAF couldn't waste my skills and experience.
Caroline Paige
My sexuality has no impact on my role in the RAF.
Kate Brophy
I admitted I was gay. They could have sent me to prison.
Carl Austin-Behan
The RAF has become a beacon of inclusivity
Sqn Ldr Catherine Lawson

Everyday Heroes

In one way or another, servicemen & servicewomen often find themselves in situations that require courage, whether this be to undertake a dangerous mission, to overcome a challenge or to deal with fear, personal struggles or loss. This collection of stories explores the many ways in which courage is shown in the day to day life of RAF personnel.

We were under attack, but no-one stopped playing cards.
Chris Annetts
Exposed to the greatest danger, he refused to back down.
Mark Johnson
I can still see his face as if it was yesterday.
Carl Austin-Behan
There were death threats. But I'm still here.
Flt. Lt. Gareth Davies
I won't let my autism be a disadvantage.
Daniel Pearce
He held fire while the German crew bailed out.
Mark Johnson
Get up and put your trousers on.
Katherine Du Plat-Taylor
I admitted I was gay. They could have sent me to prison.
Carl Austin-Behan
Mum's parachute didn't open. She never jumped again.
Candida Adkins
I saw a sport that was failing.
Flt. Lt. Gareth Davies
I was just relieved I could open my eyes.
Stuart Robinson

Collecting stories about the RAF from around the world

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