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RAF Stories

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

Stories from across the globe

Benny Goodman

The Royal Air Force Museum is saddened by the news that Squadron Leader Lawrence ‘Benny’ Goodman has died at the age of 100. Benny enjoyed a distinguished RAF career as a wartime bomber pilot with No. 617 Squadron, the celebrated ‘Dambusters.’ When ‘Jewish Hidden Heroes’ was launched in 2018, Benny supported it energetically, sharing his remarkable story at a special event at the RAF Museum that November. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the RAF Museum’s partnership with Chelsea FC and of their campaign to challenge anti-Semitism and racism through education.

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The Gulf War 1990 - 1991

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Fighting the pandemic

It is difficult to think of any aspect of life which hasn’t been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Since we first went into lockdown in March familiar routines of home, work, school and social life have been disrupted. Some will have found the experience traumatic, others will have been inspired by a sense of togetherness. Some will have had to cope with the personal tragedy of losing friends and relatives. But all of us have had to make changes.

The RAF has approached the pandemic with the pragmatism and dedication to duty you would expect.

We have been talking to RAF personnel to learn how the pandemic has affected them individually, how it has affected the institution and how the RAF has supported communities during this crisis.

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Human Spirit

Facing a shared threat can bring out the best in us, individually and as a community. Over the next few weeks and months our lives will be turned upside down. We will all face challenges, and at times we will struggle.

We would like to share with you some stories of courage, compassion and personal triumph. We hope that they will give you cause for optimism and remind you of the strength of the human spirit.

Resilience, determination, cooperation and kindness won’t solve the problems we are currently facing, but they will make them easier to bear.

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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.