Royal Air Force History

Air Historical Branch (RAF)

Web pages of sources for the research of RAF history.

RAF History - General Bibliography

This bibliography is designed to provide guidance on introductory reading, and is not intended to be comprehensive. Most of the books listed contain their own bibliographies and source references, which may be used for more detailed research. The inclusion of books in the bibliography does not imply AHB (RAF) or MOD approval or promotion. Click on one of the time periods to visit the relevant page.

Royal Air Force History - General

F. Adkin, From the Ground Up: A History of RAF Ground Crew (Airlife, 1983)

Sir Michael Armitage, The Royal Air Force (Cassell, 1999)

K. Beauman, Partners in Blue: The Story of Women's Service with the Royal Air Force (Hutchinson, 1971)

C. Bowyer, History of the RAF, 1918-1977 (Hamlyn, 1977)

J. Chartres, Fly for their Lives (Airlife, 1988)

Sir Maurice Dean, The RAF and Two World Wars (Cassell, 1979)

B. Escott, Women in Air Force Blue (Patrick Stephens, 1989)

M. Gething, Sky Guardians: Britain's Air Defence, 1918-1993 (Arms and Armour, 1993)

E. Haslam, The History of Royal Air Force Cranwell (HMSO, 1982)

L. Hunt, Twenty-one Squadrons: The History of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force: 1925-1957 (Garnstone, 1972)

R. Jackson, The Royal Air Force in Action from Flanders to the Falklands (Blandford, 1985)

T. Mason, To Inherit the Skies: From Spitfire to Tornado (Brassey's, 1990)

K. Oliver, Through Adversity: The History of the Royal Air Force Regiment (Forces and Corporate, 1996)

H. Probert, High Commanders of the Royal Air Force (HMSO, 1991)

J. Rawlings, The History of the Royal Air Force (Temple, 1984)

J. Taylor, CFS: Birthplace of Air Power (Jane's, 1987)

Commands, Groups, Wings and Miscellaneous Units

(For Second World War Bomber Command titles see The Second World War)

C. Ashworth, RAF Bomber Command, 1936-1968 (Patrick Stephens, 1995)

C. Ashworth, RAF Coastal Command, 1936-1969 (Patrick Stephens, 1992)

C. Ashworth, RAF Fighter Command, 1936-1968 (Patrick Stephens, 1992)

C. Bowyer, Fighter Command, 1936-68 (JM Dent, 1980)

C. Bowyer, Pathfinders at War (Ian Allan, 1977)

M. Bowyer, 2 Group RAF: A Complete History, 1936-1945 (Faber, 1974)

C. Christie, Ocean Bridge: The History of RAF Ferry Command (Midland, 1995)

P. Jackson, Britain's Armed Forces Today No. 1: RAF Strike Command (Ian Allan, 1984)

P. Jackson, Britain's Armed Forces Today No. 4: Royal Air Force Germany (Ian Allan, 1986)

G. Musgrove, Pathfinder Force: A History of 8 Group (MacDonald and Jane's, 1976)

R. Sturtivant, J. Hamlin and J. Halley, RAF Fying Training and Support Units (Air Britain, 1997)

H. Wynn, Forged in War: A History of Royal Air Force Transport Command, 1943-1967 (The Stationary Office, 1996)

Stations

C. Bowyer, Action Stations 1: Wartime military airfields of East Anglia, 1939-1945 (Patrick Stephens, 1979)

B. Halpenny, Action Stations 2: Military airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands (Patrick Stephens, 1981)

D. Smith, Action Stations 3: Military airfields of Wales and the North-West (Patrick Stephens, 1981)

B. Halpenny, Action Stations 4: Military airfields of Yorkshire (Patrick Stephens, 1982)

C. Ashworth, Action Stations 5: Military airfields of the South-West (Patrick Stephens, 1982)

C. Bowyer, Action Stations 6: Military airfields of the Cotswolds and the Central Midlands (Patrick Stephens, 1983)

D. Smith, Action Stations 7: Military airfields of Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland (Patrick Stephens, 1983)

B. Halpenny, Action Stations 8: Military airfields of Greater London (Patrick Stephens, 1984)

C. Ashworth, Action Stations 9: Military airfields of the Central South and South-East (Patrick Stephens, 1985)

B. Quarrie, Action Stations 10: Supplement and index (Patrick Stephens, 1987)

T. Fairbairn: Action Stations Overseas (Patrick Stephens, 1991)

Squadrons

(Individual squadron histories are too numerous to list in this bibliography; the most useful service-wide or role-specific reference sources are shown)

C. Ashworth, Encyclopaedia of Modern RAF Squadrons (Patrick Stephens, 1989)

J. Halley, The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth, 1918-1988 (Air Britain, 1988)

C. Jefford, RAF Squadrons: A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 (Airlife, 1988)

P. Moyes, Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (Macdonald, 1964)

J. Rawlings, Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (Macdonald and Jane's, 1976)

Biographies and Autobiographies

(Alphabetically, by subject)

No Passing Glory: The Full and Authentic Biography of Group Captain Cheshire VC, DSO, DFC, A. Boyle (Collins, 1955)

Coningham, V. Orange (Methuen, 1990)

Years of Combat, Lord Douglas (Collins, 1963)

Years of Command, Lord Douglas (Collins, 1966)

Leader of the Few: The Authorised Biography of Air Chief Marshal the Lord Dowding of Bentley Priory, B. Collier (Jarrolds, 1957)

Big Wing: The Biography of Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, W. Newton Dunn (Airlife, 1992)

Park, V. Orange (Methuen, 1984)

Portal of Hungerford, D. Richards (Heinemann, 1977)

Swifter than Eagles: The Biography of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Maitland Salmond, J. Laffin (Blackwood, 1964)

The Central Blue, Sir John Slessor (Cassell, 1956)

With Prejudice, Lord Tedder (Cassell, 1966)

Trenchard: Man of Vision, A. Boyle (Collins, 1962)

Architect of Air Power: The Life of the First Viscount Weir of Eastwood, 1877-1959, W. Reader (Collins, 1968)

Prepared by AHB1(RAF)

All Crown Copyright images and text remain property of the Crown

The Ministry of Defence has taken every care in its preparation of the content of this site but shall not be liable for any damage or loss foreseeable or unforeseeable arising from information featured on this site.

Revised: April 11, 2000

[ Air Historical Branch | Histories | Timeline ]

[ Equipment | Squadrons | Stations | Organisation ]
[ News | Downloads | History | Links | Careers ]

[ Home ]

© Crown Copyright 2003-2005 and © Deltaweb International Ltd 2003-2005