When people think of British fighter aircraft in the Second World War, the elegant Spitfire often comes to mind first. Yet during the critical early years of the war—especially the Battle of Britain—it was the more workmanlike Hurricane that bore the greater burden. Though often paired together, the Supermarine Spitfire and the Hawker Hurricane were fundamentally different in design philosophy, performance characteristics, and … Read More “Spitfire vs. Hurricane: Britain’s Twin Pillars of Fighter Defense in WWII” »
Tag: RAF
From Biplanes to Victory: The Development of the RAF Through WWII The Royal Air Force (RAF) stands today as one of the most formidable air forces in the world, but its origins are rooted in the desperate and chaotic days of the First World War. From a fledgling collection of aircraft to a key instrument … Read More “From Biplanes to Victory: The Development of the RAF Through WWII” »
In this episode, I speak with Mark Aedy, son of Ken Aedy. Ken served in the Royal Air Force (RAF), beginning his career during the Second World War and wrote his story, which became From Biplanes to Fast Jets. Unlike many of his peers, Ken did not release after the war but continued to fly, … Read More “SWWP 40 – From Biplanes to Fast Jets” »
One of the most daring and creative events of the Second World War was the Dam Buster raid, also known as Operation Chastise. This was not to be your average bombing raid but something that would require new skills and new technology. Numerous books have been written on this raid but Dam Busters: Canadian Airmen … Read More “Dam Busters – Review” »
