@rafhistory
RAF History; Air Power; Digital History; Head of Collections and Research at RAF Museum; Author: Air Power and the Evacuation of Dunkirk (Bloomsbury 2021; Co-Ed Close Air Support (Helion 2024). Committee member of RAFHS and BCMH.
“Model airplanes,” a thoroughly depressing cartoon from a May 1943 issue of 国民防空
[Child A] “Your airplane flies well.”
Child B] “But it jumped into someone’s garden and won't come back.”
[Child A] “What are you talking about? That’s an excellent suicide attack.”
wow...
3-year postdoc opportunity at Durham University - any department, any field. Detailed guidance in the link - note that you need a mentor from a relevant department to mentor and support your application.
www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
Three Avro Lancaster formation pictured in flight from port side of a fourth Lancaster
Just 30 minutes to go until I am live with Stuart Hadaway, the Historian at the RAF Air Historical Branch, who will discuss Tiger Force: Bomber Command's Thwarted Campaign Against Japan. You can join us online at 6PM www.crowdcast.io/c/vl-2026-ha...
Yes, one of the two companion piece Monnington made for the fighter affiliation subject, the other is currently on display at RAFM collections.rafmuseum.org.uk/collection/o...
Largely flying under the radar, the RAF Musuem added some real gems to its fine art collection in 2025, including these two prepatory sketches by Thomas Monnington
www.roseberys.co.uk/news/the-raf...
In February, the IHR is hosting a 2 day intensive Short Writing Course for PhD Students designed for researchers in the humanities. The aim of this in-person training is to help you with your writing skills & craft with a particular emphasis on style and structure. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Great to see the BCMH supporting a conference on the Operational Art of War. A topic that is extremely timely and in need of sustained attention
A fantastic opportunity to share your research with an engaged audience. We host a wide variety of papers, from studies on archeology in East Anglia to research on African air power
Aircraft on take off
In just 20 minutes I will be live with Russell Isinger who will discuss Canada's efforts at developing its own Fighter Procurement during the Cold War. You can join us live at 6, or watch the recording www.crowdcast.io/c/vl-2026-is...
Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking a Lecturer in Medieval Studies to join our dynamic team within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Autumn 2026. As Lecturer in Medieval Studies you will contribute to the teaching of Medieval English literature and Medieval history across the Faculty, within our School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, and School of Historical Studies - this includes our BA English and BA History programmes, as well as postgraduate taught programmes in the two subject areas. This post is offered on a permanent contract at Birkbeck, full time 35 hours per week, with a salary of £44,247 rising to £60,858 per year. Teaching hours will vary from 6pm - 9pm, Monday to Friday. To be successful, you will bring research expertise in the literature, history and culture of the Late Medieval period (c.1300-1500), and demonstrate a capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary research and teaching, participate actively in curriculum development, supervise doctoral students, and help shape the intellectual life of our vibrant academic community. We would also welcome applicants who would be able to contribute to collaborative teaching programmes or research in the Faculty, in areas such as identity, race/ethnicity, or gender - experience of collaboration with cultural institutions, whether through research or teaching, is also welcome. Core responsibilities will initially include programme/module administration, teaching, supervision, assessment, student support and pastoral care. You will also be equipped to supervise doctoral students. With a PhD in any area of Medieval Studies, you will contribute the Faculty’s and Schools’ research impact and culture, and to the intellectual and cultural life of the institution and the various communities and partners with whom we work and serve.
Birkbeck is hiring a Lecturer in Medieval Studies (c.1300-1500), full-time and open-ended.
They will be formally based in English but expected to be able to contribute about 0.5FTE to History, including teaching and supervision.
Closing date Feb 23rd: cis7.bbk.ac.uk/vacancy/lect...
Are you a PG research student based outside of London? Did you know that you may be eligible for a bursary of up to £500 to take one of our short courses in 2026? Find out more on our IHR Research Training and Short Courses page: www.history.ac.uk/study-traini... Applications open until 31 Jan 2026
Looking forward to this!
I'm hosting Arka tonight and, assuming I manage to push all the right buttons, in the right order, you can join us live online at 6PM
✈️ RAF Museum 2026 Lecture Series – Call for Papers
We’re inviting researchers at all career stages to apply with a talk title (70 chars), abstract (max. 300 words) and biography (200 words).
🗓 Deadline: 23 January 2026
📧 ResearchNews@rafmuseum.org
👉Full details at: bit.ly/4aGg9px
#Airpower #Talk
🚀Are you a @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social BA or MA student interested in a career in air and space?
This is your chance to get candid advice from industry experts and discover the diverse careers available in air and space.
📅 20 Jan 2026
🕕18.00 - 20.30
Register 👇
ow.ly/okVa50XAuAk
Enjoyed discovering that I have recently been referenced as 'the French historian' Raffal.
Proof of what can be achieved by being inarticulate in English.
Good fun being at the Spink 360 auction, but not sure I will be going for the Whiskey
Applications are invited for three fully-funded Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA). Deadline is 9th February 2026.
Proposed projects must be arts & humanities-led
#PhD @findaphd.bsky.social @dcahf-met.bsky.social
More details:
#PhD www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgr...
John Hemingway in RAF uniform
Brian Hemingway at the RAF Museum with his father's collection
Great to be able to speak to Brian Hemingway about his father's wartime servicesnd to view his logbook and medals. Brian shared a real insight into John as a person and his service separate to the mythology of the Battle.
Anyone interested in pursuing doctoral study in military history (broadly defined) and especially in tje strategy snd economic statecraft of tge two world wars: please drop me a line
www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/schola...
LDN: ✈️ Free Lunchtime Lecture – Tue 4 Nov, 12.00pm!
Join Dr Seb Ritchie as he reveals how Air Power helped capture Walcheren Island 🇳🇱 in 1944 — a pivotal moment in the Allied campaign.
📍 In-person at RAF Museum London
💻 Livestream via Crowdcast
🎟️ Free, but registration required at: bit.ly/4nsKtql
📢 One week to go!
The Next Battle of Britain: IAMD in the Age of Escalation
Join us for an online panel discussion to examine the strategic, technological & organisational challenges facing the UK in defending itself from air attack.
📅7 Nov
🕰️1000 - 1130
Register 👇
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/the-n...
AVM Beck at RUSI
Interesting lecture by AVM Beck, Director Capabilities and Programmes, on the future of British Combat Air Power
✈️ Discover the daring story of Elsie Mackay, who set out to be the first woman to fly the Atlantic! 🌊
Join Dr Midge Gillies for our Atlantic Furies lecture, Tues 21 Oct, 12pm, live from
@RAFMuseum
Midlands. 🎟️ Free in-person or online via Crowdcast.
bit.ly/3KMNm7H
Graham Pitchfork, speaking at the RAF Museum as part of the RAFHS Seminar
Sir Glenn Torpy, speaking at the RAF Museum
Good to be able to join the @rafhistorical.bsky.social seminar on the RAF and Oman. Chaired by Sit Glenn Torpy, the first paper, from Graham Pitchfork, is providing context to the relationship by exploring the early history
Possible you might find some details in combat reports submitted, have you looked at those RAFM hold? These are different to the TNA Air50s. Simiarly, worth asking AHB if they hold anything.
Not one I have really looked at.
It is not impossible to find copies of detachment reports in sqdn and Grp ORBs but sounds like youve trawled all these.
🌟 3 weeks left to nominate for the 2025 RAF Museum Academic Awards!
Designed to inspire and reward high-quality research by up and coming scholars, the awards welcome entries that consider a variety of topics.
Find out more here👇
rafmuseum.org.uk/news/raf-mus...
John Cruickshank in RAF uniform
John Cruickshank later in life
A lovely tribute to John Cruickshank.
www.rafmuseum.org.uk/blog/flight-...
Always very modest, John did not want a great fanfare made of him on his death. An extraordinary VC, but he is a man worth emulating for how he lived his life after that one moment
Yes, a replica funded by the family originally for milestones of flight IIRC.
Before my time but think it being a replica factored into the discussion on displaying in an elevated posistion where many wont get full exp.
Some interesting Curatorial aspects involved in its use here in any case