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A-Able 14
AAF see Auxiliary Air Force
AASF see Advanced Air Striking Force
Aboukir 237
Abu Sueir 239
Abyssinia 223, 225
Accra 235
Adams, Flt/Mech R.J. 366
Adams, Ron ’Lucky’ 15, 22, 24
Addis Ababa 227
Aden 35, 36, 123, 224
Admiral Hipper (cruiser) 119, 205
Admiral Scheer (pocket battleship) 118, 119, 120
Admiralty 30–1, 199, 202, 204, 208, 212–13, 214
Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF) 126, 130
advertising campaigns 76–7
AEAF see Allied Expeditionary Air Force (AEAF) HQ Stanmore
Africa 308
Afrika Korps 228, 232, 242
AI see airborne interception
Aikman, Alan ‘Butch’ 195
Air Command South East Asia 366
Air Council 31, 56, 69, 70, 78, 114, 138
Air Gunnery 89
Air HQ Western Desert 242
Air Information Office, Washington 284, 310
Air Ministry 5, 30, 54, 56, 57, 63, 72, 76, 83, 88, 96, 101, 103, 113, 115, 136, 144, 162, 166, 174, 182, 187, 200, 201, 213, 214, 219, 226, 231, 252, 255, 258, 309; Directorate of Intelligence 155; Public Relations Directorate 78–80, 176–7, 178–84, 286
Air Staff 61, 62, 68, 116, 126, 138, 180, 185, 187, 212–13, 215
Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) 73, 101
air-to-surface-vessel radar (ASV) 211, 214–15, 218
airborne interception (AI) 174
Aircraft Delivery Unit 233
Airspeed: Horsa 351; Oxford 73
al-Mokattam 230
Albania 228
Alexander, A.V. 214, 242
Alexander, Harold 47
Alexandria 233
Algeria 251
Allied Expeditionary Air Force (AEAF) HQ Stanmore 341
Amiens prison 292–3
Amifontaine 128, 129
Amouroux, Henri 342
Amulree, Basil Mackenzie, 2nd Baron 255
Anderson, Wg/Cdr L.H. 203, 206
Anderson, Mike 175
Anson see Avro, Anson
Antwerp 349
Apprentice Schools see Cranwell; Halton
Apprentice Training Schemes 41
Arakan Peninsula 313, 323
Arctic Circle 211
Ardennes 355
Armée de l’Air 137
Armstrong Whitworth: Albemarle tug aircraft 350; Whitley 60, 111, 120, 121, 209
Army Co-operation Squadrons 131
Arnhem 350, 351, 353, 354
Arras 17
Asdic (anti-submarine underwater detection) 198–9
ASV see air-to-surface-vessel radar
Atlantic Wall 327
Attenborough, Richard 96
Auchinleck, Field Marshal Sir Claude 241
Austin 57
Auxiliary Air Force (AAF) 46, 66, 70, 72, 83
Avro: 504 biplane 74; Anson 201–2, 203; Cadet 83; Lancaster 4, 14, 17, 21, 22, 23, 60, 214, 260, 269, 274, 309, 358, 363; Type 621 Tutor 40
the Axis 223, 224, 239, 241, 245
B-17 Boeing Flying Fortress 4, 235
B-24 Consolidated Liberator 4, 213, 235, 315, 321
Bader, Douglas 194, 286, 289, 299–300
Badger, John 44
BAFF see British Air Forces in France
Baldwin, Stanley 48, 50–1
the Balkans 223, 224
Ball, Albert 28
Baltimore see Martin, Baltimore
Banks, Sir Donald 78
Banks, Eric 265, 267–70, 365
Banks, Leslie 78
Barber, Plt/Off F.E. 124
Barclay, Christina 162
Barclay, Plt/Off George: at sophisticated end of Fighter Boy spectrum 139; and celebrating announcement of decorations 151–2; C’est la guerre …’ attitude 147; character and description 151; comment on laughing at Butch Barton being shot down by a bomber 145; comment on tactics 156; comments on being scrambled 158, 159–60; describes patrol over the Thames Estuary 134–5; education and background 139, 141; feels invincible in the air 149, 158; frustration and annoyance 150–1; recovering from hangovers 143; references to Germans 140; survives being shot down 161–2; survives bomb drops on airfield 158–9
Baring, Maurice 33
Barlow, Norm 302
Barnes Wallis, Dr Neville 3, 287
Barratt, Arthur 127
Barrow-in-Furness 119
Bartlett, Les 270–1, 274–6, 279, 280–1
Barton, ‘Butch’ 145
Bates, H.E. ‘Flying Officer X’ 286
Battle of the Atlantic 2, 218–20; Admiralty control over joint air operations 212–13; and Bomber Command 215–17; Churchill’s directive 204–5; co-operative air and sea discussions 199–200; development of Asdic 198–9; and fighting submarines 211–12; pressure on Air Force 204–8; role of Coastal Command 198, 201–4, 208–11, 213–15, 217–20
Battle of Britain (1940) 7, 8, 72, 81, 101, 276, 298, 340; absence of comments on political and military events during 139; aftermath 165–6; Churchill’s timeline for 135–7; concerns over pilots and aircrew 137–9; dealing with action, in-action, and scrambling 157–60; death and survival 145–6, 147–9, 161–2; as defining moment in history of RAF 164; drinking and socialising 141–5; effect on image of RAF 178; emotional journey experienced by personnel in 160–2; films representing the story of 163–4, 178–80; importance of leadership 153–5; individual success regarded as collective cause for celebration 151–3; memories and accounts of 134–5, 140; mythologizing of 162–4; overcautious ordering of alerts and failure of instructions 156–7; revisionist accounts 137; size of fighter squadrons 141; squadrons operated as units 170; success of command and control system 174
Battle of France 136, 137
Battle of Jutland 198
Battle of the Ruhr 310
Bay of Bengal 316
Bayley, Sgt Edward 147
Bayne, Flt/Lt Alf 150
Bazin, Jim 12, 16, 17
BBC 11, 14, 21, 96, 162, 180
Beamish, Victor 155
Beaton, Cecil 163
Beaufighter see Bristol, Beaufighter
Beaufort see Bristol, Beaufort
Beaverbrook, Max Aitken, 1st Baron 185, 199–200
Beetham, Michael 274
BEF see British Expeditionary Force
Belgium 127–8, 137
Bell, George, Bishop of Chichester 264
Belsen 359
Benghazi 241, 242
Berchtesgaden 12, 14, 16, 17–24; Berghof 17, 19–20, 21, 24; Eagle’s Nest 17; SS barracks 22, 23
Berlin 16, 20, 181, 184, 185, 186, 270–1, 274–5, 276, 279–80, 285, 308, 311, 364
Bert Ambrose Orchestra 96
Beveridge Report (1942) 360
Big Wing controversy 164, 190, 194
Bird-Wilson, Harold ‘Birdy’ 150
Bishop, Ernest ‘Ernie’ 91, 237–8
Bismarck 204, 208
Blackburn: B2 83; Botha 201
Blackett, Professor Patrick 217
Blenheim see Bristol, Blenheim
Bliss, Brian 14, 15–16
Blitz 140, 162, 261, 262, 297; accounts of participants in 170–4; ‘Britain can take it’ slogan 177; effect on civilians and cities 158, 165–6; proposed raids in retaliation for 184–5
Blitzkrieg 127
Bodien, Harry 165, 170–2
Bodien, Vina 165, 171
Bolland, Guy 202–4, 205–6
Bombay see Bristol, Bombay
Bomber Boys 182, 253, 265, 273, 286, 296
Bomber Boys (2008) 8
Bomber Command 12, 59, 111, 363; amount of ordnance dropped 4, 261, 356–7; asks for full publicity to be given to operations 180–4, 187–8; assessment of 364–5, 367–8; and Battle of the Atlantic 200, 217; Bomber Boys considered quieter and more serious 182; Bomber Harris put in charge of 216–17; commitment to the task 279–81; considered a bolshie lot 265; costly Scandinavian foray 123–6; court martials due to ’failure to carry out a warlike operation’ 281–3; crew as most important people in the universe 266–70; deaths of aircrew and ground crew 300; disappointing results of carpet bombing operation 341–2; and evolving of squadron spirit, morale and confidence 276–8; expected to focus on specific targets 356; failures, losses and survival 7, 117–19, 120, 127–33, 215, 256, 260, 262, 276, 277–8, 290; films on 187–8, 289; final ops 357–8; improved aircraft and equipment 215; incidence of VD in 253–9; leads attack on Scharnhorst and Gneisenau 206–7; leaflet drops 121; loans aircraft to Coastal 209, 216–17; new navigational device 215; night-time excursions 121–2; number of bomber stations 260–1; oil storage plants as strategic targets 184–5; as part of 2nd Tactical Air Force 291; positive media publicity for 180–4; primacy of strategic bombing assured by Portal 185–7; relative inactivity during Phoney War 122; resentment of privileged status 261; resistance to old-fashioned military discipline and unquestioning respect 278–9; sense of isolation within aircraft 270–3; and sense of striking back, exacting revenge 295–7; sharing of experiences 273–6; silence not chatter during flying ops 271; as unfitted for war 61; weakness and inadequacy of training 111–17, 119–20
bombing war 3–4; belief in 51–3, 62–4, 112, 260, 367–8; change in tactics 184–5; Circus operations 191; cost of 260–1; effectiveness of 261; fantasy of ’knock-out blow’ 260; inadequacy of 120, 127–33; introduction of area bombing 262–5; positive publicity given to 180–4; primacy of strategic bombing 185–7, 261–2; as retaliation 181, 184, 263–4; Rhubarb operations 191, 193; tragic waste of cross-Channel operations 189–96
bombs: General Purpose bomb 17–18, 117; Semi-Armour Piercing bombs 117; Tallboys 18, 21
Boothby, Bob 303
Bordeaux 202
Bormann, Martin 17, 22
Boston see Douglas, Boston
Boulton Paul Defiant (hybrid fighter) 167–8, 171, 174, 298
Bowhill, Frederick 70, 80, 199, 200, 202, 205, 208, 209, 217, 218–19
Boyle, Dermot 367
Brantes, Capt François de 106
Bremen 16
Brest 202, 206, 208
Brewster Buffalo 189–96
Bristol: Beaufighter 175, 249, 298, 310, 363; Beaufort 201, 202–3, 204, 205, 206; Blenheim 58–9, 111, 117, 118–19, 120, 126, 224, 226, 233, 236, 245; Bombay 224, 234; Bulldog 40
Bristol (city) 172–3
British Air Forces in France (BAFF) 126
British Army 2, 5; 1st Airborne Division 349; 2nd Army 349; 8th Army 224, 240; 12th Army 313; 14th Army 323, 324, 325; Glider Pilot Regiment 350–1; 7th Indian Division 323; XV Corps 323; as the ‘Cinderella’ of the services 54; considered ‘inferior’ to the Americans 6; desert campaign 224, 225, 226–7, 228–9, 231, 240–1, 242, 250–1; exasperation at RAF favouritism 53–4; fighting the Italians 188; high-handed and bullying attitude towards politicians 55–6; military budget 49; nicknamed ’brown jobs’ or ‘the unemployed’ 94; recruitment and conscription 86; relationship with RAF 31, 53–4, 126, 226–7, 231, 232
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan 295
British Expeditionary Force (BEF) 126, 131
Brittany 342
Britton, Plt/Off Henry 148
Broadhurst, Harry 343
Broadley, Alan 290, 291, 293
Bromet, Air Commodore Geoffrey 205
Brooke, Alan 47, 368
Brooke-Popham, Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert 132, 137
Brookes, Sqn/Ldr John 18, 21
Brown, Larry 15
Brown, Mark ’Hilly’ 152–3
Brown on Resolution (film, 1935) 78
Bruneval 290
Brunsbüttel 16–17, 117, 119
Buckley, Fg/Off J. 21
Bullard, Betty 303, 369
Bulloch, Terry 220
Burgess, Fg/Off Phil 302
Burma 300, 312, 313, 316, 321–4
Burma-Siam railway 321
Burton, Richard 96
Burwell, Colonel Harvey S. 3
Cadiz 236
Caen 341–2
Cairo 221, 233, 234, 245, 247, 366; Bardia 247–8; Berka district 248; Continental Hotel 247; Exmorandi Bar 221; Gezira Sporting Club 247; Groppi 221, 248; Shepheard’s Hotel 247
Cairo University 230
Calcutta 318–19, 322
Cambridge University Air Squadron 139, 173, 208
Campbell, Fg/Off Kenneth 206, 207–8
Campbell, Flt/Lt G.J. 21
Canada 92, 211, 287, 295
Cap Gris Nez 15
Caribbean 308
Carlton Hotel, London 58
Carroll, Leslie 179
Carson, Sgt 243
CAS see Chief of the Air Staff
Castle Bromwich, Birmingham 107
Castle Camps 156
Catalina seaplanes 208, 209
Cecil, Lord David 5–6
Cecil, Lord Hugh 37
Central America 211
Central Flying School, Wiltshire 73, 83
Ceylon 214, 322
Chaffe, Marjorie 103–5
Chain Home Low stations 109
Chain Home radar network 61–2, 109
Chamberlain, Neville 12, 20, 63, 106, 107, 115, 360
Chance, Flt/Lt David Errol 310
Chatfield, Alfred, 1st Baron 106
Cherbourg Peninsula 342, 343
Cheshire, Sqn/Cdr Leonard 288
Chiang Kai-shek 324
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) 34, 35, 46, 54, 62, 122, 219, 231
Chin Hills, Northern Burma 316
Chindits 322–3
Chisholm, Roderick ’Rory’ 172–3
Chittagong 323
Churchill, Winston 139, 360, 368; accompanies Portal and Gibson to Canada 287; almost sacks Tedder for apparent defeatist attitude 240; announces the Battle of Britain in speech to House of Commons 135, 136; assessment of RAF’s power to intimidate 60; believes the Air Force can win the war 180; comment on Portal’s cleverness 47; comment on radar 166; considered for Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence 63; constantly changing orders from 224; and defenestration of Newall 185; demands action on navigation training 113; dominance of Battle of the Atlantic 214; establishes burden responsibility on Fighter Boys 149; fails to understand difficulties in Middle East Command 229–30; gives pep talk to aircrew 337; gives support to Bomber Harris 216–17; issues Battle of the Atlantic directive 204–5; and luring America into the war 228; opponent of non-provocation policy 59; strategy to persuade US that Britain worthwhile ally 162; supports concept of ’force substitution’ 35; switches forces to Greece 2
Clarke, LAC Len 129
Clift, Harry 336, 337, 340, 344, 358, 362
Clostermann, Pierre 338–9
Coastal Command 171, 310, 363; assessment of 364; bargaining power for resources 212–16; and Battle of the Atlantic 218–20; confusion over role and identity 197–8; ‘Constant Endeavour’ motto given to 197; and D-Day 341; demands and hardships of those in command 202–6; efforts to sink battleships and attack ports 204–8; emphasis on defensive and passive tasks 199; good personal relations with the Navy 199; hazards, losses and disappearances 210–11, 213–14; inadequate aircraft, armament and technical equipment 200–1; isolated nature of many of the stations attached to 209–10; new machines sent to 201–2, 208–9; nicknamed the ’White Crows’ 218; offensive role hunting U-boats 208–9, 211–12, 218–20; operational research unit set up 217–18; poem on 197; quantitative and qualitative transformation of 209; re-allocation of aircraft to 209, 216–17, 260; relationship with the Navy and the RAF 212–16, 219; significant contribution to victory 197; stability and reliability of personnel in 209; as third in line for everything 197; unpreparedness of 201; violence inflicted by 296
Cobham, Alan 73–4
Cobham’s Flying Circus 74, 83
Collins, Sqn/Ldr Anthony 154
Collishaw, Raymond 225
Cologne 120, 216, 262–4, 297, 357
Commonwealth troops 2, 222, 224, 225, 226
Coningham, Arthur ‘Mary’ 225, 242–3, 339–40, 355
Considine, Brian 81
Cooke, Air Commodore Cyril 230
Cooper, Anthony 195
Coote, Patrick 44
Corbett, Dick 325
Corbin, Jimmy ’Binder’ 247, 248–9
County Chemicals 65
Cranwell, RAF College 66, 89, 147, 279; cadets and graduates of 36–7; deaths and accidents at 41; entry, selection process and cost 37–8; establishment of 36; flying as principal attraction 40–1; passing-out parade inspected by Trenchard 34; reaction to Chamberlain’s broadcast 108; reverence for spit and polish, parades and bull 38–9; rigorousness of course 38; sports and activities at 39–40
Crete 228, 231, 232, 240
Cripps, Stafford 262
Cross, Ulric 308
Croydon Airport 58, 148
Crump, Corporal 298–9
Cunningham, General Alan 241
Cunningham, Andrew 225, 231
Cunningham, John ’Cat’s Eyes’ 174–7
Curtiss: C-46 Commandos 324; Kittyhawk 233, 241; Tomahawk 233, 234, 241, 243, 244; Warhawk 241
Cutting, Flt/Sgt E.J. 21, 22
Cyprus 224
Cyrenaica 226, 228, 231, 232, 240, 241
Czechoslovakia 20
Czernin, Count Manfred 143, 152
D-Day 6, 15, 292, 329, 332–3, 334, 335–6, 339, 340, 341, 350
Dahl, Flt/Lt Roald Dahl 3, 287; The Gremlins 287
Daily Express 24
Daily Herald 164
Daily Telegraph 186
Dakota see Douglas, Dakota
Dam Busters see Royal Air Force, 617 Squadron
Dams Raid (1943) 3, 16, 82, 287, 302, 307
Dane, Fred 315–16, 319, 324, 370
Dartmouth Naval College 32, 37
The Dawn Patrol (film, 1930 & 1938) 79
Dawson, AVM Graham 230
Dawson, Walter 44
De Haviland 73, 174–5; Mosquito 16, 80, 288, 291, 292–3, 297, 363; Tiger Moth 83, 202, 302; Vampire 363
De Havilland, Capt Geoffrey 174
De Vere, Flt/Lt Stanley 327–8, 343, 345, 346, 347, 348–9, 355
Dean, Sir Maurice 115
A Defeated People (film, 1946) 264
Defiant see Boulton Paul Defiant
Delhi 320
DeMarco, Wilf 23
Denmark 123, 223
desert campaign: daily life and privations in 245–6; deployment and co-operation of air power and ground forces 223–4, 225–7, 231–3; encounters with Soviet allies 235; importance of air power 222; as intensely masculine 248–9; journey to Middle East theatre 236–7; keeping up morale in 249–50; lack of resources in 224; lived in the wastes of sand and rock called ’the blue’ 240, 242; memories and accounts of 242–5; navigation in 222; operational capabilities 229–30; reactions to local populace 237–9; repair and salvage unit 230; rest and recreation 221, 246–9; romanticizing of 222–3, 250; success and failure in 223, 228–9, 240–2, 250–1; supply line across waist of Africa 233–5; unfamiliarity with landscape and environment 222; variety of manpower in 224–5
Dickinson, Joyce 7
Disney, Walt 287
Doe, Bob 83
Dönitz, Admiral Karl 211
Doran, Flt/Lt Ken 117, 118
Dornier 172; D.17 151, 155; D.215 151
Douglas: Boston (A-20 Havoc) 235; Dakota 313, 323, 336, 351
Douglas, Sholto: advocates offensive sweeps across the Channel 190; comment on Newall as ’an absolute bag of nerves’ 185; as Oxford graduate 47; replaces Dowding as C-in-C 164, 190; tribute to Finucane 196
Dowding, Hugh ’Stuffy’; assessment of 369; character and description 62; forced to listen to list of complaints 168–9; opposes Churchill’s demand for reinforcements 131; replaced by Douglas 164, 190; sets timeline for Battle of Britain 135–6; surprised at re-shuffle at the summit 185; views as heresy to the bomber cult 62–3
Drake-Brockman, Sylvia 101–3, 105, 304, 369–70
Dresden 357, 368
Duke, Neville: admits to thrill of shooting the Huns 244; arrival at Sidi Hannish 242–3; booziness in the desert 247; character and description 242, 243; as a Fighter Boy paradigm 243–4; finds squadron in poor state of morale 250; never learned to like the desert 245; shot down twice in five days 244–5; as top-scoring fighter pilot in the Mediterranean theatre 243
Dunkirk 2, 136, 139, 154, 231
Durban 236, 237
Durnford, Joan 346, 358
Earp, Sgt Richard 125
East Africa 224
Eden, Anthony 227
Edrich, Bill 95
Edward, Prince of Wales 36
Egypt 3, 188, 223, 224, 227, 230–1, 236, 237–40
Eisenhower, Dwight D.: determined to maintain Allied advance on broad front 349; friendship with Tedder 1–2, 32, 251; as Supreme Allied Commander 1, 356
El Adem, Libya 226, 243, 244
El Alamein 2, 228, 229, 242, 250–2, 264
Elementary Air Gunnery School, Bridlington 120
Eliot, Hugh 157
Ellington, Air Marshal Edward 46, 54, 78, 185
Elliot, Robert Deacon 148, 153–4, 160–1
Elliott, Denholm 96
Elsie, Lily 25, 27
Embry, Basil 291, 292
Emden, Fg/Off Henry 119
Emden (training ship) 118–19
Empire Air Days 76
Ensor, ’Mick’ 220
Ercolani, Cynthia Douglas 320
Ercolani, Lucian: arrival in India 311, 312–13, 314; comment on poverty and starvation 319; comment on treatment of Indians 319; comment on USAAF 322; diaries and memories 312, 314; family background and education 311–12; misses home and wife 320; ops against the Japanese 314–15; records leisure in Calcutta 318–19; recuperates from jaundice in hill station of Nainital 319–20; survives downing in the Channel 311
Esbjerg 119
Essen 296
Étaples 195
F-Freddie 23
Fairey: Battle 56, 58, 60, 127, 127–30; Firefly 363; Swordfish 208
Falaise Pocket 343
Far East theatre 189, 191, 260, 365; air support as essential 322–5; arrival in 312, 313; command and control arrangements 322; crash landing and capture in 316–18; downtime in Calcutta 318–19; huge operational area 322; importance of maintenance and ground crew abilities 318; impossibility of conventional campaigning 322; sense of duty, progress and satisfaction 321; story written about 300; training and survival in 315–16
Farnes, Ken 95
Farouk, King 239
Farr, Tommy 95
Faucheux, Jack 15
Fauquier, Wg/Cdr Johnny 18
Fayoum airport 242
Fenwick, Charles 74–5
Ferry Command 209
Fiat: CR42 biplane 243; G50 monoplane fighter 244
Fighter Boys 137, 139, 143–4, 146–7, 149, 164, 178, 179, 182, 243
Fighter Boys (2003) 8
Fighter Command 289, 340, 363, 367; assessment of 363–4; and Battle of Britain 7, 137–40; best equipped and organized 60, 109; and bombing of Berchtesgaden 18; concentrates on night-flying 166; costly Norwegian enterprise 125–6; creation of 60, 62; cross-channel French operations 189–96; ill prepared for war 110; losses over the Channel and the Continent 131, 136, 192–6; motley crowd of men in 72; as part of 2nd Tactical Air Force 291; shift in theatre of war 188–9; violence inflicted by 296
Finisterre 212
Finlay, Don 141
Finucane, Brendan ’Paddy’ 195–6, 289
Firefly see Fairey, Firefly
The First of the Few (film, 1942) 163–4, 178–9
First World War 33, 96, 101, 144, 190
Fleet Air Arm 30–1, 208, 228, 363
Flight magazine 59
flying clubs and schools 73, 80, 82, 111, 173
Flying Fortress see B-17 Boeing Flying Fortress
Flying Officer X see Bates, H.E.
Flynn, Errol 79
Focke-Wulf: Condors 209; FW 190s 204–5, 293, 337, 355
Fockler, Eddy 316
Ford Motor Company, Manchester 260
Forde, Chas Pryth 247
Fort Lamy 233, 234
Foxley-Norris, Christopher 81, 131, 133
France 2, 7, 11, 27, 32, 54, 55, 116, 121, 126, 131, 132, 136–7, 138, 143, 147, 158, 189, 223, 242
Frankfurt 121, 273
Frankland, Noble 112–13
Fraser, Peter 240
Frederick I ’Barbarossa’ 20
Free French 224–5
French, Ken ’Paddy 328, 346
Frew, Gp/Capt ‘Bunty’ 59
Fry, Elizabeth 186
Fry, Eva 186
Fry, Teddy 186–7
Fuad, King 239
Gable, Clark 78–9, 178
Gambut, Libya 221
Garland, Fg/Off Donald 128, 129
Gash, Fred 168, 169–70, 173–4
GCI (ground-controlled interception) 174
Gee navigational device 215
General Aircraft Hamilcar glider 351
General Staff 54
Geneva conference (1932) 48, 51
George V 26, 73
George VI 58, 164, 176
German Seventh Army 343
Germany 8, 11, 18, 20, 24, 48, 51, 57, 59, 61, 63, 64, 81, 110, 112, 116, 119, 126, 180, 185, 189–90, 215, 216, 224
Gestapo 292, 294
Ghent 346
Gibbes, Bobby 222–3
Gibraltar 236
Gibson, Guy 3, 106; assessment of 289; character and description 286–7, 289; continues propaganda work in UK 287–8; death of 288–9; and feelings of revenge and retaliation 296; returns to the front line 288; visits Canada and US 287; Enemy Coast Ahead 287–8
Gibson, Tony 65
Gilliat, Sidney 78
Girl’s Own Paper 76
Gladiator see Gloster Gladiator
Glorious (carrier) 125
Gloster: biplanes 224; Gladiator 59, 125, 225; Meteor 363
Gneisenau 125, 204, 206
Goddard, Air Vice Marshal Victor 59
Goering, Edda 22
Goering, Emmy 22, 23
Goering, Hermann 17, 20–1, 22
Gone With the Wind (film, 1939) 178
Goodman, Geoffrey 89
Gort, John Vereker, 6th Viscount 55
Gossage, Air Marshal Edward 138
Gotha bombers 29
Gower, Pauline 76
Grant, Cy 310
Gray, Flt/Lt Les 278
Gray, Sgt Thomas 128, 129
Graziani, Marshal Rodolfo 225, 226
Greece 189, 224, 228, 231, 240
Green, Wg/Cdr Charles 343
Gréville airfield 293
Grice, Dick 155
Grimbergen 348
Grosvenor, Lord Edward 70
Guedalla, Philip 225, 229
Gurkhas 325
Halifax see Handley Page, Halifax
Halton, RAF Apprentice School 66, 171; entrance to 41–2; length of time at 42; life at 42–3; progress tests and passing-out examinations 43–4; success of personnel 44–5; training at 42; transfer to Cranwell 44
Hamburg 184, 263, 272, 282, 358–9
Hamilcar glider see General Aircraft Hamilcar glider
Handley Page: Halifax 4, 60, 99, 213, 214, 260, 308; Hampden 60, 106–7, 111, 120; Harrow 58, 60; Heyford 58, 60
Hankey, Maurice 59
Hanworth aerodrome, London 83
Hardwicke, Cedric 290
Hardwicke, Helena Pickard 290
Harkins, Johnny 273–4
Harris, Arthur ‘Bomber Harris’: appointed head of Bomber Command 216; arranges for American aircraft to be delivered 201; assessment of 369; attitude towards Coastal Command’s modest requests 214; belief in crushing cities as war-winning strategy 276; character and description 123, 216, 252, 265; comment on Guy Gibson 288; demands return of loaned bombers to Coastal and Middle East Commands 216–17; determined to persist in area attacks 356; forever linked to the bombing war 264–5; held in high esteem by the Bomber Boys 265; known as ‘Butch’ in the RAF 252; launches massive raids on German capital and cities 274, 285; likens the airmen’s experience with WWI infantrymen 270; opposed to setting limit on operational tours 265–6; released from clutches of Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force 356; as ruthless, energetic leader 261; stirring words captured on newsreel 263; supported by Churchill 216; tough attitude towards VD 252–6, 266
Harrison, Rex 96
Harrisson, Tom 360
Hassan, Mohammed Abdullah ‘the Mad Mullah’ 35
Hastings, Macdonald 181–4, 186
Hawker: biplanes 224; Hurricane 61, 81, 107, 109, 125, 126, 131, 136, 138, 139, 153, 159–60, 161–2, 174, 188, 226, 233, 234, 241, 298, 316, 363; Typhoon ‘Tiffy’ 296, 310, 340, 344, 351
Hawks, Howard 3, 287
Hayden, Len 77, 299–300
HCUs see Heavy Conversion Units
Healey, Flt/Lt Gray 296
Healey, Ted 351, 353
Heap, Edith 161
Hearn, Edward 83–4
Heavy Conversion Units (HCUs) 257
Heinkel 57, 209; He III 150, 158, 164, 170, 171, 176
Heligoland Bight 117
Helmore, Gp/Capt William 219
Hendon Air Display 76
Hendrie, Andrew 296
Hildesheim 357–8
Hillman, R.W. 207
Hiroshima 365
Hitler, Adolf 14, 51, 56, 59, 86, 186; at Berchtesgaden 12, 16, 17, 18, 19–20, 21, 24; invades Russia 176; launches Operation Barbarossa 188; music played at all public appearances 58; orders Panzer units in Normandy to counter-attack 342–3; pulls Germany out of Geneva conference 48; Mein Kampf 82
Hitler Youth 58
HMS Belfast 296
HMS Empress 199
HMS Hood 208
HMS Kelly 231
Hoare, Air Minister Samuel 35–6
Holland 288, 297, 348
Hollis, General Sir Leslie 368–9
Home Fleet 199, 206
Hore-Belisha, Leslie 55
Howard, Leslie 164, 178, 179
Hudson see Lockheed Hudson
Hudson, Wg/Cdr Lionel 325
Hughes, Desmond 167–8, 169–70, 173
Humphreys, Peter ’Hunk’ 242
Hunt, Ingrid 23
Hunt, Irmgard 23
Hurricane see Hawker Hurricane
Hustedt-Schwerin airfield 362
Iceland 213
Imperial Airways 233
Imperial Service College, Windsor 38
Imphal 323
India 295, 312, 318–19, 322, 365
Indian Air Force 308
Indian National Army 319
Initial Training Wing, Pembroke College (Cambridge) 56–9, 92, 98–100
Inskip, Sir Thomas 63, 64
International Brigades 89
Ipswich civil airport 117
Iraq 35, 224
Ironside, Edmund 55, 56
Italy, Italians 188, 201, 223, 224, 225, 227, 228, 243, 251, 285
ITW see Initial Training Wing
Iveson, Tony 82
Jackson, Phil 15, 22
Japan, Japanese 189–96, 201, 313, 314, 315, 321, 322, 323–5, 365
Jeffries, Plt/Off ‘Butch’ 243
Jennings, Humphrey 264
Johns, W.E. 75–6; The Camels Are Coming 75
Johnson, Amy 72–3, 76
Johnson, Gen Sir Benjamin 31
Johnson, Peter 107
Jones, Gp/Capt Peter 369–70
Joubert, Philip 305; backs the Leigh Light for night illumination 219; comment on Bowhill’s ‘puckish humour’ 199; disparaging remarks about Bowhill’s hostility to boffins 200, 217; and incidence of VD 255–9; takes over Coastal Command from Bowhill 211; tries to divert aircraft to deal with Atlantic threat 214; understands importance of science in war at sea 200, 217; wholeheartedly supports the Navy 213
Junkers: JU87 Stuka dive bomber 127, 231; JU88 151, 175, 193, 273
K-Kathleen 99–100
Keegan, John 6, 327
Keitel, Field Marshal Wilhelm 340
Kennedy, MGen Sir John 54, 55
Kent, Prince George, Duke of 153
Kenya 227, 290
Kerr, Mark 27
Khartoum 233, 234, 235
Kiel 286
Kiel Canal 117
Kingcome, Brian 38, 40, 178, 179, 236–7, 307
Kittyhawk see Curtiss, Kittyhawk
Klundert 348
Kohima 323
Korda, Alexander 51
Kriegsmarine 2, 199, 202, 211, 216
La Pallice 202
Lack of Moral Fibre (LMF) 281
Lagos 233
Lancashire Aero Club 173
Lancaster see Avro, Lancaster
Langdon, David 286
Langworthy, Walter ‘Roo’ 307
Laon 17
Lappin, Willoughby 57
Lawrence Minot bombing trophy 122
Lawrence, T.E. 44
Lawson, Jimmy 88
Lawson, Wilfred 96
Le Fresne-Camilly 336, 337
Le Havre 269, 290
Le Mans 143
League of Nations 14
Lebanon 223
Lee, Christopher 96
Lee, Norman 90, 92, 119–20, 266–7, 271–4, 276–8, 280, 296–7
Lee, Richard ‘Dickey’ 147–8
Leefe-Robinson, William 28
Leeming, Yorkshire 259
Lees, Christopher 154
Lees, Ronny 153–4, 154–5
Leigh, Humphrey de Vere 218
Leigh Light 219
Leigh, Vivien 178
Leigh-Mallory, Trafford 46–7, 153, 164, 167, 190, 194, 196, 341
Leng, Sergeant Maurice 81, 144–5
Lewis, Harry 96
Liberator see B-24 Consolidated Liberator
Libya 223, 243
Liddell, Jacky 302
Lille 346, 347
Limavady, Northern Ireland 209, 211
The Lion Has Wings (film, 1939) 163
LMF see Lack of Moral Fibre
Lock, Eric ’Sawn-off Lucky’ 193–4
Lockheed Hudson 201, 209, 212, 291
London 165, 178–9, 184, 242, 262, 363; 400 club, Leicester Square 179; Adastral House, Kingsway 30, 51, 182; Bag O’Nails, Soho 179; Imperial War Museum 178; Savoy Hotel 178, 179; Victory House, Kingsway 102
London Aeroplane Club 73
Londonderry, Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess 36
Longmore, Arthur 224, 225, 227, 228, 229, 230–1
Lorient 202
Lough Foyle 209
Louis, Joe 95
Low Countries 126, 223
Lübeck 216
Ludlow-Hewitt, Edgar 114–15, 117, 122, 185, 305–6, 365, 367
Luftwaffe 49, 57, 58, 61, 124, 127, 129, 130–1, 137, 138, 150, 159, 166, 176, 189–90, 210, 228, 231, 240, 247, 275, 337, 339, 355–6
Luton, Bedfordshire 168
Lutyens, Sir Edwin 82
Lynam, Jim 15
Lynn, Vera 96
Lysander see Westland Lysander
Maastricht 128
Ma’aten Bagush 226, 245
Macchi C202s 241
McCudden, James 28
MacDonald, Ramsay 50
MacDougall, Ralph 155
Mace, Ted 287
McGaw, Plt/Off Charlie 143
McIndoe, Archibald 145, 338
McKenna, A.F. 40–1
Mackinnon, Archie 298
McNay, Sgt Alexander 158
MacPhail, James 145
Maintenance Command 230
Maison Blanche aerodrome, Algiers 247
Malan, Gp/Capt Adolph ‘Sailor’ 326
Malaya 189–96, 319, 322
Malta 228, 236, 240
Mandalay 314
Manley, Michael 310
Mannock, Mick 28
Marlborough College, Wiltshire 38
Martin: Baltimore 235; Marauder 235; Maryland 208, 244
Maryland see Martin, Maryland
Mass Observation 177, 178, 298, 360
Maudling, Reginald 252
Mauripur 366
Mayer, Louis B. 78
Mayu River 316
Meares, Flt/Lt Stanley 191–2
Mediterranean 188, 222, 224, 227, 236
Mediterranean Fleet 225
Melrose, Sqn/Ldr James 22
Mersa Matruh 226
Messerschmitt 59, 353; ME109 124, 129, 130–1, 134, 136, 148, 151, 157, 167, 192, 193, 203, 241, 243, 244, 338, 355, 362; ME110 124, 150, 154, 193
Meteor see Gloster, Meteor
Metox radar warning receiver 219
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) 78
Middle East 188–9, 191, 217, 222–3, 224, 231, 236, 240, 260
Middle East Command 188, 224, 229–30, 248
Midnapur 319
Milan 266–7
Milch, General Erhard 58, 59
Mileham, Denys 141, 145, 160
Military Training Act (1939) 86
Ministry of Information 184; Home Intelligence division 177
Mitchell, R.J. 163
Mitsubishi, Navy Type O carrier fighter ’Zero’ 189, 314
Mizler, Harry 56–9
Modern Boys comic 75
Mollison, Jim 72
Mönchengladbach 288
Monte Cassino 341
Montgomery, Bernard 47, 242, 264, 341, 342
Moore, T.H. 97
Morocco 251
Morris, Richard 286
Mosley, Diana Mitford 19
Mosley, Oswald 19
Mosquito see De Haviland, Mosquito
Mountbatten, Lord Louis 95, 231–2, 322
Mullins, W.C. 207
Munich 12, 121
Mussolini, Benito 223, 233
Nagasaki 365
Nainital 319–20
Naples 240, 249
National Service 104
National Service (Armed Forces) Act (1939) 84, 86, 101
Nationalist Chinese forces 324
Naval Staff 54
Navy Type O carrier fighter ‘Zero’ see Mitsubishi Navy Type O carrier fighter ’Zero’
Nazis 51, 56, 57, 228, 262, 359
Neil, Tom 160
Newall, Cyril 54, 60, 62, 114, 122, 185
Newfoundland 211, 213
News of the World 83
Nicholson, James 289
night-flying 279; accounts of participants in 170–4; bluffing and confusing the raiders 174; hazards and confusions of 167–70, 172–3; neglect of training for 166; positive publicity given to 180–4; publicity film on 187–8; sorties different from daytime operations 170; squadrons operated as loose formation 170; use of night-illumination 218–19; use of radar and airborne interception sets 166, 174–7
Niven, David 79, 96, 164
No.2 Initial training Wing, Cambridge University 92
Normandy 251, 336–45, 364
North Africa 2, 222, 224, 227, 229, 250
North-West Frontier 35
Northern Ireland 150
Norway 2, 7, 123, 125–6, 138, 223
Nuremburg 275
Obersalzberg 17, 18, 23
Observer Corps 166
O’Connor, Lt/Gen Richard 226
O.H.M.S. (film, 1937) 78
Omaha Beach 327
O’Malley, Derek 168
Oosterbeek 352
Operation Barbarossa (1941) 188, 216
Operation Bodenplatte (1944) 355–6
Operation Cobra (1944) 342
Operation Compass (1940–41) 226, 231
Operation Crusader (1941) 240, 241, 242
Operation Gomorrah (1943) 263
Operation Jericho (1945) 292–4
Operation Market Garden (1944): blame and criticism 353–5; heroic debacle of 350–3; Montgomery’s proposal for 349–50; opening moves 350
Operation Overlord (1944): air superiority as sine qua non of the plan 328–9, 330; Allied command structure 335–6; black and white stripes painted on Spitfires’ wings 334–5; bombing of infrastructure in Germany and France 330–2, 333, 334; Britain-based ground crews as part of invasion force 336–7; build-up to 326–8; cab rank system used 339–40; carpet-bombing delivers disappointing results 341–2; Churchill’s pep talk 337; civilian deaths due to carpet-bombing raids 342; countdown to 335–6; deception as order of the day 332; Falaise Pocket trap 343–4; hunting and harrying of fugitives 344–5; intelligently conceived and executed 329; lack of decisive first-day battle 336; main players involved in 329; Normandy as opportunity to pay off old scores 337–9; numbers of aircraft involved 334; preparations and post-invasion responsibilities and strategy 330–3; Rommel reports Allied control of air over battle area 340–1; temporary airfields constructed 332; training for 333; use of dive bombing 332
Operation Torch (1942) 285
Operational Training Units (OTUs) 111, 114, 172, 187, 257, 268, 370
Orange, Vincent 69, 225
Orde, Cuthbert 144, 193–4
Orwell, George 263–4
OTU see Operational Training Units
Oxford University Air Squadron 81
Pacific theatre 2, 235
Page, Geoffrey 338, 344
Palermo 240
Palestine 224
Panzer Lehr division 340
Papineau, Roderic 93, 94, 298
Paris 342, 345
Park, Keith 153, 164, 190
Partlett, Gladys 301–2, 362
Partridge, Eric 65; Dictionary of RAF Slang 93
Pas-de-Calais 195, 292
Passmore, Richard 65
Path Finder Force 16, 21, 80, 278, 308
Pathé Gazette 262
Patterson, Charles 79–80, 82, 291, 293, 297
Patton, General George S. 342
Peace Pledge Union 80–1
Pearl Harbor (1941) 216
Peirse, Richard 184–5, 187, 216, 322
Pembroke Dock 202
Persian Gulf 224
Peyton-Ward, Captain Dudley 217
Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 95
Phillipson, Sgt John 175
Photographic Reconnaissance Unit 206, 208
Pickard, Dorothy 290
Pickard, Sqn/Ldr Percy Charles ’Pick’ 187; appears in drama-documentary 289; background and education 289–90; character and description 290, 291; death of 293–4; hazardous postings 290–1; put in charge of 140 Wing 291; takes part in Operation Jericho 292–3
Pickering, James 233, 235
Pickering, Sylvia 307
Picture Post 4–5, 6–7, 94, 181, 184, 360
Pigg, Oswald 148
Pleasence, Donald 96
Plenderleith, Robert 144
Poland, Poles 127, 224
Polish Air Force 234, 295
Polish Brigade 349
Poole, Norman 245–6, 298
Poona training school 315–16
Popular Flying 75
Port Sudan 235
Port Tewfik 237
Portal, Charles: as ‘accepted star of the Air Force’ 47; agrees that situation at sea needs assistance from RAF 214; assessment of 368–9; character and description 47, 122–3, 368–9; as chief of Bomber Command 122, 184; and incidence of VD in the RAF 254; known as ‘Peter’ to his peers 122; passion for falconry 123; and primacy of strategic bombing 185–6; and problems concerning training facilities 77; responsible for policy of area bombing 264; ruthlessly shunts Dowding aside 164; sails for Canada with Churchill and Gibson 287; secures reinforcements for Middle East 233; supports area attacks 356
Pound, Dudley 200, 214, 368
Powell, Flt/Sgt ‘Darky’ 124–5
Pownall, Henry 53–4, 55
Prickman, Tom 143
Prinz Eugen 208
Pritchard, Sam: anger at stupidities of politicians and pacifists 250; arrives at Fuka airbase 245; buys snake and lizard skins 234–5; delighted at living standards at Abu Sueir 239; delivers new Blenheim Mark IV to Egypt 236; discomfort of sleeping in the sand 245; finds peacetime NCOs ’boorish and unfriendly’ 239–40; given provisional orders to attack Farouk’s palace 239; grim memories of Padgate 90–1, 92; leisure-time resentments in Cairo 247–8; no great bond affection with Egyptians 238; nonconformist background 90, 222; repelled by contemptuous attitude towards ’wogs’ 238; rest and recreation in the desert 221; use of ’by the centre!’ as title for his memoir 93
Pudney, John 286
Q-Queenie 14, 15, 22, 23–4
Queen Mary 287
Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead 145, 338
RAAF see Royal Australian Air Force
radar 61–2, 166, 174, 175, 176, 189, 211, 214–15, 218, 219, 290, 315, 327
Radio Direction Finding (RDF) 62
RAF Air Historical Branch 354
RAF Airfield Construction Branch 336
RAF bases: in Africa 308; Bardney, Lincolnshire 11, 13; Benson, Oxfordshire 187; Biggin Hill 154, 155, 242; Brize Norton 350; Cardington, Bedfordshire 89, 90; Chedburgh, Suffolk 282; Church Fenton, Yorkshire 157; Coningsby, Lincolnshire 287; Debden, Essex 143–4, 148–9, 150, 156–7, 161; Drem, Scotland 154; Duxford 157, 299; Fuka airbase 245; Hendon 175; High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire 258; Honington, Suffolk 303; Hornchurch, Essex 59, 141, 167; Hullavington, Wiltshire 107; Hunsdon, Hertfordshire 292; Kenley, Surrey 195; Kirmington, Lincolnshire 269; Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire 167; Lindholme, south Yorkshire 257; Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire 99; Lossiemouth, Scotland 124; Manston, Kent 350–1; Martlesham Heath, Suffolk 150, 156, 193; Merston, West Sussex 326–8; Middle Wallop, Hampshire 172, 175, 176; Middleton St George, Yorkshire 272, 273, 277–8; Mildenhall, Suffolk 58, 59, 187; Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire 304; North Weald 135, 158–9; Padgate, Lancashire 90–2; Peplow, Shropshire 268; Port Lympne, Kent 56; Portreath, Cornwall 236; Romford, Essex 97; St Eval, Cornwall 88, 202, 205; Scampton, Lincolnshire 302; Scunthorpe, Norfolk 291; Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire 274; Squires Gate, Blackpool 298; Stoney Cross, New Forest 302; Stradishall, Suffolk 282, 320; Tangmere, West Sussex 107–8, 150, 153, 194; Tarrant Rushton, Dorset 302; Tempsford, Bedfordshire 291; Trent Park, Hertfordshire 56; Uxbridge, London 34–5, 90; Wattisham, Suffolk 117; Wickenby, Lincolnshire 270; Wittering, West Sussex 165, 171
RAF Dance Orchestra 96
RAF Film and Photographic Unit 294, 297
RAF Flying Training School, Gravesend 107
RAF Servicing Commandos 336
RAF Shaibah 235
RAF Staff College 122
RAF Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) 67, 69, 72, 82, 83, 84–5, 140, 154, 168, 186, 193
RAFO see Reserve of Air Force Officers
RAFVR see RAF Volunteer Reserve
Rangoon 315, 324, 325
Rasmussen, Lauritz 168
Rathbone, Basil 79
Rattigan, Terence, Flare Path 96
Rawlinson, Hubert 42–3
Rawnsley, Sgt Jimmy 176
Rayski, Ludomil 234
RCAF see Royal Canadian Air Force
recruitment see training and recruitment
Red Sea 224, 235, 236
Reed, F.S. 87–8
Regia Aeronautica 223, 240
Remlinger, Jacques 339
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt 340, 351
Reserve of Air Force Officers (RAFO) 45, 66
Reynolds, LAC L.R. 128–9
Reynolds, Quentin 262
Rheydt 288
Rhys, John Llewellyn 70; England Is My Village 71–2; ‘Too Young to Live’ 70–1
Richards, Denis 223
Richey, Paul, Fighter Pilot 152–3
Rigby, Arthur 350–3
Ritchie, Ian 293
Ritchie, Sebastian 354
River Maas 349
River Meuse 128–30
River Rhine 349, 352, 355
Rivett-Carnac, Wg/Cdr Tommy 278–9
RNAS see Royal Naval Air Service
Robertson, Sir William 29
Robinson, Joyce 9–10
Robinson, Kelso 357–8, 368
Robinson, Maurice 158
Robinson, Sqn/Ldr Maurice 145
Rolfe, John 326, 346, 347, 358–60
Rolls-Royce 57, 60, 109
Rome 341
Rommel, Erwin 228, 239, 242, 250, 340–1
Roosevelt, Theodore 115
Rootes 57
Rose, Morfydd 302–3, 307
Rostock 216
Rothermere, Harold Harmsworth, 1st Viscount 35
Royal Air Force – Organization: Group HQ 180, 181, 203, 205; Main Force 18, 22; 2 Group 291; 5 Group 133, 288; 11 Group 139, 153, 164, 190; 12 Group 153, 164, 167; 13 Group 154; 19 Group 205; No.140 Wing 291; No.145 Wing 326; No.244 Wing (Desert Air Force) 236; 2nd Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF) 291, 345, 355; 3rd Tactical Air Force (3rd TAF) 324; Tactical Air Force 346; 3 Squadron 138, 225; 9 Squadron 16–17, 21, 94, 119, 290, 303; 12 Squadron 128–9, 270; 13 Squadron 131; 17 Squadron 143; 20 Squadron 316; 21 Squadron 292; 22 Squadron (Coastal Command) 208; 35 Squadron 363; 41 Squadron 141, 193, 310; 43 Squadron 107–8; 45 Squadron 226, 245; 46 Squadron 156; 50 Squadron 279; 51 Squadron 290; 53 Squadron 218; 65 Squadron 59; 66 Squadron 348; 72 Squadron 144, 148, 153, 164; 73 Squadron 143, 144, 145, 155, 156, 157; 76 Squadron 308; 78 Squadron 99–100; 85 Squadron 138, 147; 87 Squadron 138; 92 Squadron 169, 242; 99 Squadron 58, 290, 309, 311, 314; 101 Squadron 309; 103 Squadron 310; 105 Squadron 236; 106 Squadron 287; 110 Squadron 117; 111 Squadron 298–9; 112 Squadron (Desert Air Force) 242–3; 120 Squadron 213; 132 Squadron 338; 149 Squadron 16–17, 58, 119; 150 Squadron 127; 151 Squadron 165; 155 Squadron 324; 156 Squadron 278, 309; 159 Squadron 321; 161 Squadron 290–1; 175 Squadron 336, 337; 198 Squadron 310; 214 Squadron 124, 182–4, 186, 282, 297; 216 Squadron 221; 217 Squadron (Coastal Command) 88, 202, 202–4; 221 Squadron (Coastal Command) 211; 222 Squadron 299; 249 Squadron 134–5, 153; 256 Squadron 93, 298; 257 Squadron 156–7; 263 Squadron 125; 264 Squadron 167, 168, 169, 170; 311 Squadron (Czech Squadron) 290; 341 (Alsace) Squadron 338–9; 355 Squadron 321; 412 Squadron 341; 428 Squadron 92, 272, 276–7; 464 Squadron 292, 293; 487 Squadron 292; 502 Squadron (Coastal Command) 211; 601 Squadron, Auxiliaries (County of London) 56, 70; 602 Squadron 339; 603 Squadron (Coastal Command) 310; 604 Squadron 172–3, 175; 611 Squadron 191–2, 193; 617 Squadron (Dam Busters) 15–16, 17, 82, 288, 327; 619 Squadron 23
Royal Air Force: American view of 1–4; assessment of 363–5, 367–9; attitude to violence and shared fulfilment in the work 295–9; Battle of Britain effect 164, 178; Brylcreem Boys 65, 340; cab rank system 339–40; cheerful fatalism of 28; colour, nationality and diversity in 295, 307–11; considered unstuffy, modern and competent 3–4, 6; and cult of the bomber 51–3, 62–4, 112, 367–8; death, survival and friendships 100, 145–6, 147–9, 370–1; demobilization and disaffection 365–7; dilution of old pre-war elite 140–1; dominant role of 4; drinking and socialising 141–5, 298; expansion, independence and professionalism of 16–17, 29–31, 49, 69–70, 114; fact-finding tours of 5–6; favoured status of 49–50, 298; and feelings of revenge and retaliation 184–5, 295–7; female responses to 6–7, 9, 94–5, 298; film-makers interest in 78–80; geographical reach and spread 92–3; glamorous image and appeal of 7, 28–9, 65, 72–5, 76, 80, 94, 95–7, 298; identity and loyalty focused on the squadron 153; incidence of VD in 252–9; interest in politics 360–1; leadership of 31–5, 153–5; losses, failures and inadequacies 127–33, 191–6; mobilization of 106–9; need for determination and flying ability 149–51; need for numerical and technological parity with the Luftwaffe 56–64; nicknamed ‘The Firm’ 94; official publications on 76; origins of the blue uniform and the ensign 25–8; Per Ardua ad Astra as motto of 30; pervading mood of cheerfulness in 145–7; portrayals in novels and biographies 70–2, 75–6; in the press and media 4–5, 6–7, 94–5; progress to a squadron 97–100; proportion of ground staff to aviators 87–9; provide essential air support in the Far East 321–5; publicity machine 78–80, 176–7, 178–84; relationship between ground crew and aircrew 299–301; relationship with the other services 31, 53–4, 126, 198, 294; relationship with politicians 54–5; scruffiness, deference and discipline in 305–7; sense of belonging and identity 295–6; slang 93–4; success of 35–6, 294–5; transformation of 48; as umbrella organization 295; unassailable reputation 7–8; vibrant esprit de corps in 301–7; virtues, qualities and deferential attitudes 146–7; weaknesses in 111–20; wishes to return to pre-war professional identity 366–7; women in 301–5, 307, 369–70
Royal Army Clothing Department 31
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 224, 295, 325
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 224, 277, 295, 310
Royal College of Heralds 26
Royal Flying Corps (RFC) 28, 30, 31, 32, 39, 46, 69, 73, 79, 108, 144, 225
Royal Hospital, Chelsea 36
Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) 30, 225, 229
Royal Navy 2, 5; and Battle of the Atlantic 211, 219; Britain’s security dependent on 108; and control of naval aviation 30–1; and the desert campaign 223, 224, 228; in the Far East 325; fighting the Italians 188, 223, 228; loss of ships and men 125–6; military budget 49; nicknamed ‘tars’ or ‘matelots’ 94; recruitment and conscription 86; relationship with Coastal Command 212–16, 219; relationship with the RAF 8, 53, 198, 199; role of 198
Royal New Zealand Air Force 295
Ruhr 186, 263, 275, 349
Russian air force 235
Rutter, Plt/Off Bob 145–6
SAAF see South African Air Force
St Andrew’s Hospital, Billericay 145
Saint-Gratien 293
Saint-Lô 342
Saint-Nazaire 99–100
Sainte Croix-sur-Mer 336
Salmond, Geoffrey 46
Salmond, John 46
Sammons, Alan 316
Sampson, Richard 293
Sanders, Arthur 258
Sassoon, Sir Philip 56
Saunders, Hilary St George 286
Saunders-Roe, Saro London 201
Savoy Orpheans 179
Scampton, Lincolnshire 106–7
Scharnhorst 125, 204, 206
Scheme F 49, 61
Scheme J 61, 63
Scheme K 64
Schleswig 358
Scoon, Fg/Off Jellicoe 310
Scott, Sgt J. 207
Scott, W.L. 67, 68, 72
SEAC see South East Asia Command
Seafire see Supermarine, Seafire
Sedan bridges 128–30
Sétif, Algeria 245–6
Shadow of the Wing (film) 78–9
Shenbanjo, Fl/Off Akin 308
Short Brothers 75; Lerwick 201; Stirling 60, 201, 214, 260, 282, 351; Sunderland 201, 212, 363
Short Service Commission (SSC) 45
Siam 322
Sicily 228, 251, 285
Sidi Hannish 242–3
Sidi Omar 244
Siegfried Line 349
Silloth, Cumberland 93
Sinclair, Archibald 122, 214, 252, 255
Singapore 189, 312–13, 319
Skaanland 125
Slessor, John ‘Jack’: appointed commander over 5 Group 133; belief in the bomber 52; character and description 51; comment on Coastal Command recognition 220; comment on deference and discipline 306; comments on first moments of the war 106; comments on Trenchard 32, 64; dislikes proposed RAF uniform 27; mobbed on Mile End Road 108–9; points out the unreadiness of the RAF 60–1; recognition of inadequacies of Bomber Command 116; as Trenchard protégé 51
Slim, Gen Bill 323
Smalley, Sgt Maurice ‘Bish’ 129–30
Smith, James 157
Smith, Malcolm 33, 289
Smuts, Jan 29–30
Smyth, Plt/Off Tony 81–2, 124–5, 127
SOE see Special Operations Executive
Somaliland 223, 224, 225, 227
Sommerfeld, John 89, 93, 360; ‘Hang Him Up to Dry’ 300–1; ‘Worm’s Eye View’ 361–2
Sopley GCI Station 176
South African Air Force (SAAF) 224, 227, 295
South Cerney aerodrome 87
South East Asia Command (SEAC) 322, 324
Sowrey, Air Commodore Bill 227
Spanish Civil War 53, 89
Special Operations Executive (SOE) 291, 292
Speer, Albert 17
Spitfire see Supermarine Spitfire
Spooner, Sqn/Ldr Tony 201–2, 209, 210–11, 218, 219; ‘No Spotlight for Coastal’ 197
The Squadronaires 96–7
SS Orion 236
SSC see Short Service Commission
Stalag Luft III 310
Starfish (dummy airfields) 174
Stebbings, Frank 15
Stirling see Short Brothers, Stirling
Stokes, Richard 264
Strachan, Flt/Lt Billy 309
Strachey, John 262
Strategic Air Campaign 357
Stratemeyer, MGen George 322
Strauss, George 255
Stumpff, Lt/Gen Hans-Jürgen 58
Stuttgart 121
Sudan 35, 224, 227
Sudetenland 20
Suez Canal 223, 236, 237
Sumatra 322
Sunderland seaplane see Short Brothers, Sunderland
Supermarine: Seafire 363; Spitfire 109, 136, 139, 154, 163, 164, 169, 174, 178, 188, 193, 195, 241, 299, 300, 323, 324, 341, 355, 363; Stranraer 201
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force 356, 362
Sutton Bridge OTU 172
Sutton, Sir Bertine 253, 254, 256, 258, 266
Swann, AVM Oliver 44
Swinton, Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl 54, 58, 61, 64, 78
Sykes, AVM Sir Frederick 35
Syria 223
Takoradi Route 93, 233–4, 235
Tangye, Nigel 5
Target for Tonight (film, 1941) 187–8, 289
Tedder, Arthur 67; almost sacked by Churchill 240; assessment of 369; background and education 46, 68–9; buttonholed by Mountbatten in Cairo 231–2; character and description 47; comment on Collishaw 225; comment on Farouk 239; comment on Spitfire Vs 241; confident of RAF in the Middle East theatre 241; as deputy to Eisenhower 1–2, 32; exasperated by his colleagues 232–3; as flight commander in the Great War 69; friendship with Eisenhower 1–2, 32, 251; frustrated at lack of effective close support 242; as protégé of Trenchard 32, 69; recognises desire to fly as inducement for joining RAF 72; rejects raid by light and heavy bombers 341; relationship with Portal 231; supports focus on specific targets 356; supports scheme to recruit from the midle class 69; training programme drawn up by 109–10; visits squadrons in the blue 250
Tedder, Rosalinde 69
Tee Emm 306
Teheran 235
Ten Year Rule 14
Terraine, John 108
Things to Come (film, 1936) 51, 79
Thomas, Edwin 95, 97–100
Thomas, Fg/Off N.M. 128
Thomas, Flt/Lt Sam ’Tommy’ 167, 168–9
Thornley, John 90
Thousand Bomber Raid 216, 262–3
Thunderbolt see Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
Tiger convoy 233
Tiger Moth see De Haviland, Tiger Moth
The Times 24, 58, 293
Tirpitz 14, 16
Tizard, Sir Henry 211
Tobruk 240, 241, 242, 245
Tomahawk see Curtiss Tomahawk
Torquay 95
Tovey, Jack 206
Townsend, Peter 38, 40–1, 108
training and recruitment: academic qualifications 41–2, 43–4, 83, 87–9; for aircrew 92–3; and conscription 66, 86–7; cost of 261; difficulties for raw recruits 90–2; Empire and Commonwealth 92, 295; evacuation and relocation of schools 107; female recruits 66, 72–3, 101–5; Freedom from Infection (FFI) inspection 90; gunnery practice 110; inability to keep pace 77, 109–10; intake numbers 66, 89–90; motivations to join 40, 81–2; as open to everyone 9–10, 37–8, 67–76; for pilots and navigators 111–13; in Poona 315–16; progress to a squadron 97–100; for reservists 67–70, 83–5; specialist ground tradesmen 5, 76–7; success of advertising campaigns 76–7, 78–80, 81; Trenchard’s system for 36–46, 56, 66; weakness and inadequacy of 111–20; in the West Indies 308; see also Cranwell, RAF College; Halton, RAF Apprentice School
Trans-Jordan 224
Transport Command 303
Trenchard, Hugh, 1st Viscount ‘Boom Trenchard’ 46, 215, 222, 260; background and early career 32; character and description 31–3, 34, 131–2; and defenestration of Newall 185; denounces shift to fighters 64; establishes and builds up framework for RAF 35–46, 56, 66; influence and reputation 32–4; inspects fighter bases 153; on the origin of the RAF ensign 25–6; personal memories of 34–5; policy of all-out aggression 69; and position of airforce in wartime 49–50; visits base personnel at Grimbergen 348; youth, intelligence and restless aggression in 40–2, 44–5, 46–7
Trenchard’s Brats 42, 44
Tripoli 228, 240, 241
Tromsø fjord 16
Tuck, Bob Stanford 59, 289
Tunisia 224, 243
Turbinlite project 219
Turkey 223, 224
Turner, Col John 174
Typhoon see Hawker, Typhoon
U-boats 15, 175, 198, 199, 200, 202, 204–5, 208, 211, 212, 213, 214, 217, 218, 219, 220, 237, 296, 341
Udet, Maj/Gen Ernst 58
University Air Squadrons 66
Urquhart, Maj/Gen Roy 353–4
US 1st Army 342
US 3rd Army 342
US 82nd Airborne Division 349
US 101st Airborne Division 349
US Army Air Forces (USAAF) 3, 322, 364; Tenth Air Force 324
US Eighth Air Force 4, 18, 356
US Navy 2
USAAF see US Army Air Forces
V weapon sites 15
Valenciennes 17
Vampire see De Haviland, Vampire
Vaughan Williams, Ralph 163
VE Day 362, 363
Veldwezelt 128
venereal disease (VD) 252–9
Verity, Hugh 291
Vickers 58; Vildebeest 201; Virginia 122; Wellesley 58, 60, 224; Wellington 16–17, 111, 117, 119, 120, 124, 182, 209, 210, 214, 218, 219, 226, 290, 296, 311, 318
Vickers ‘K’ machine guns 203
Vigors, Tim 39
Von Rundstedt, Gerd 355
Vroenhoven 128
WAAF see Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
Wade, Fg/Off Trevor 169
Wakefield, Charles, 1st Viscount 73
A Walk in the Woods (film) 179–80
Wall, Gp/Capt Arnold 25, 34, 34–5, 131
Walmsley, Air Marshal Sir Hugh 33, 122
Wangergooge island 16
War Cabinet 261
The War Commander (film, 1927) 73
War Office 42
War Plans 115, 121
Warwick, Sqn/Ldr Jim 288
Washbrook, Cyril 95
Watt, Harry 187, 188, 289
Wavell, Archibald 225, 227
WDAF see Western Desert Air Force
Webster, Sir Charles 112
Webster, Herbert 144
Wehrmacht 127
Wellington see Vickers, Wellington
Wells, Ronnie 100
West Drayton (reception centre) 102
West Indies 308
Westcott (wireless operator) 124
Western Desert Air Force (WDAF) 224, 225, 240, 241
Westland Lysander 126, 131, 291
Whitfield, Flt/Sgt Fred 11, 14–15, 22, 24
Whitley see Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
Whittingham, Sir Harold 254–5, 258
Wight, Flt/Lt Ronnie 130–1
Wilhelmshaven 117, 118, 297
Williams, Cedric 155
Winkler, Sgt Reg 129–30
Wireless School apprentices 44
Wissler, Denis 140, 142–3, 147, 148, 149–50, 152, 155, 156, 158, 159, 161
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) 101–5, 143–4, 155, 159, 248, 301–5, 308, 362
Women’s Royal Air Force 101
Wood, Sir James 36
Wood, Sir Kingsley 54
Woodbridge, Flt/Sgt Stanley 315
Woodhall Spa 15
Wright, J.D. 130
Würzburg radar system 290
Wyton, Cambridgeshire 278
X-Gerät radio beaming system 174
Yugoslavia 189
Zeppelins 29, 108
‘Zero’ see Mitsubishi Navy Type O carrier fighter ’Zero’