Syllabus

• Week 1

  The Early Cold War 1945-1953

  • Introduction

    During this activity we will introduce the main objectives of the course - and encourage you to think about one of the RAF's key Cold War roles - the nuclear deterrent - in more general terms.

  • The RAF in 1945

    Dr Ross Mahoney (Aviation Historian, RAF Museum) and I give a general overview of the course, why we selected this particular topic, and hint at what is coming in Week 1.

  • The Relief of Germany and the Berlin Air Lift

    Taking stock of things: in this, and the following sections, we will review where the RAF was in 1945 after six arduous years of war.

  • Changing Technology

    This activity will consider the evolution of the principal new aircraft the RAF acquired in the early Cold War period, with the coming of the jet age.

  • The Korean War

    We have a short discussion of the Korean War in this course relating to the RAF; but for the Cold War itself, it was a significant event

  • National Service

    From demobilization at the beginning of the week, we consider a form of conscription (under another name) from the late-1950s

  • Quiz

    This week we will be including a short quiz on some of the themes we have covered. The questions have multiple choice answers which are not necessarily 'right' or 'wrong' in absolute terms but represent different interpretations.

  • Week 1 Conclusion

    Here we draw together some thoughts about the first week

• Week 2

  The RAF, the Empire, and a New Global Role

  • Introducton

    This week will look at the RAF beyond Britain and its NATO role, and to deployments and actions across the globe in the Cold War era and the period of decolonization.

  • The RAF in Germany before RAF Germany

    The RAF in Germany before RAF Germany - RAF Germany being the RAF organization of their forces in West Germany and then Germany 1957-1995. Here we look at the RAF in the years before RAF Germany was formed.

  • The Suez Crisis

    The Suez Crisis was a low-point in Britain's post-1945 dealings with the world. We briefly essay the circumstances around this disastrous adventurism.

  • The RAF's Global Operations Beyond the NATO Central Front

    We will spend a great deal of time during this course considering the RAF in Europe and the threat from the USSR. Ross felt we should cast the net wider, and here are a few examples of the RAF in action around the world.

  • A Diverse RAF?

    An important part of the RAF in a global role was the participation of the Empire – in the Second World War; and then as members of the Commonwealth.

  • The Falklands War

    The Falklands War may be considered as Britain's last imperial war. We consider it here as an action beyond NATO.

  • Quiz

    This is a short quiz on some of this week's themes.

  • Conclusions

    A few concluding comments for the week as a whole.

• Week 3

  The Independent British Nuclear Deterrent

  • Introduction

    This week we will look at the efforts of Britain to become the world’s third atomic weapons state behind the U.S. and the USSR. This meant not only the diversion of resources for atomic research but also for new bombers.

  • Britain's Nuclear Deterrent

    From 1946 Britain found itself cut out of the Manhattan Project and its successors. This prompted the Attlee Labour Government in 1948 to commission Britain’s own Atomic Bomb.

  • The V-Force

    The V-Force became a matter of national pride as well as security in the 1950s. We will look at how these aircraft evolved in their commissioning and in service.

  • Thor and Skybolt

    Two U. S. missiles deployed by the RAF, or intended for the RAF’s V-Force, are considered in this activity.

  • Conclusions

    Conclusions drawn from week three of the course.

• Week 4

  Defending the Skies

  • Introduction

    This week we will be focussing on how the RAF monitored intrusions into British airspace, and the areas over foreign soil and British seas which it had responsibility for.

  • British Skies

    While we will predominantly deal with how the RAF looked to counter Soviet bombers over Britain, this role also encompassed the seas around this island-nation and the NATO facilities the RAF were responsible for.

  • ‘Home Front during the Cold War’

    We tend not to think of a ‘Home Front’ to the Cold War, but the fear of bombers or missiles coming over was a constant concern, and did intensify at various points in the period, especially the early 1980s.

  • Intelligence Gathering

    Defending the skies also meant considerable and constant vigilance. This activity considers this in the context of the RAF over land and sea from the air.

  • Week 4 Conclusions

    Week 4 Conclusions

• Week 5

  Aspirations, Cancellations and a New Role

  • Introduction

    As well as dealing with the changing role of the RAF from the 1962-65 period until the end of the Cold War, we will also reflect on the ‘missed opportunities’ associated with cancelled 1960s projects.

  • From Sandys to TSR-2

    In this activity we consider the limitation placed on the RAF’s procurement plans by the Government when it came to the newest technology available in the period 1957-65.

  • From Strategic to Tactical

    We started off this course saying that the RAF was arguably the finest tactical air force in the world in 1945. After 1968, this again became the RAF’s primary focus, and in a European environment.

  • Gulf War I

    The Gulf War 1990-91 was a major engagement for the RAF and other nations aligned to the U.N. - principally the U.S., but also Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as well as Britain.

  • Week 5 Conclusions

    Here we round-up this week of work, which largely deals with the last quarter-of-a-century of the Cold War.

• Week 6

  Honouring the RAF in the Cold War and After

  • Introduction

    During this week, we will look at how the RAF Museums were conceived and built, as well as how the RAF is remembered through public memorials in and around London.

  • The RAF Museums

    Ross Mahoney discusses with colleagues at the RAF Museum the development of the Hendon and Cosford sites since 1972.

  • Memorials

    In this activity Emmett Sullivan will look at some of the memorials to the RAF in and around London.

  • Week 6 Conclusions

    Conclusions - for the course and the week