Battle of Britain
A series of air battles fought over Britain (August–October 1940), in which the RAF successfully resisted raids by the numerically superior German air force. Winston Churchill said in the House of ...
Berlin Airlift
(1948–49)A measure undertaken by the US and British governments to counter the Soviet blockade of Berlin. In June 1948 the USA, Britain, and France announced a currency reform in their zones of ...
big wing
An aerial defense tactic proposed by RAF Squadron Leader Douglas Bader in 1940 to oppose Luftwaffe attacks during the Battle of Britain (1940). Bader proposed that German air raids be ...
Bomber Command
A subordinate element of the British Royal Air Force assigned the mission of strategic bombardment. In the early years of World War II the RAF Bomber Command engaged in both daylight and night ...
can opener
Slang1 (in World War II) an aircraft equipped with antitank or anti-armored vehicle weaponry, especially the Royal Air Force's Hurricanes equipped with a 40mm gun on each wing, capable ...
Fortress
B-17, Flying Fortress originally designed to meet specifications for a bomber issued by the (then) U.S. Army Air Corps in 1934, the prototype first flew on July 28, 1935, and ...
Hawker Hurricane
A versatile bomber aircraft that was the backbone of Royal Air Force defense in World War II. It carried two 40-mm guns and two Browning machine guns.Compare Spitfire.
Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard
(1873–1956)British air marshal who, as chief of staff between the wars, built up the Royal Air Force into the third major element in Britain's armed services. He was created a baronet in 1919, a ...
Ira Clarence Eaker
(1896–1987) air force officer and noted pilot, born in Field Creek, Texas. Eaker participated in historic firsts in midair refueling and instrument flying. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying ...
Military Cross
British military decoration for valor. Established on December 31, 1941, the Military Cross may be awarded to junior officers and warrant officers of the British Army or to junior officers ...
Mustang
P-51 an escort fighter originally built to British specifications in 1940 by North American Aviation; delivery to the Royal Air Force began in November 1941. Because the aircraft performed poorly ...
Robert Plot
(1640–96) [Bi]British antiquary and first Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. His principal works were his Natural history of Oxfordshire (1677) and Natural history of Staffordshire ...
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Engineers experimented with balloons in the 1870s and a small factory was established at Chatham in 1883. Blériot's flight across the Channel in 1909 and the German Zeppelin programme ...
Royal Naval Air Service
When the Royal Flying Corps was founded in 1912 it had a military and naval wing. The latter soon adopted the name Royal Naval Air Service, which was officially recognized in July 1914. It then ...
Samuel Pepys
(1633–1703)Best known for his famous diary of the 1660s, now handsomely edited by R. Latham and W. Matthews (10 vols, 1970–83), Pepys was an outstanding administrator at the Navy Office and in 1684 ...
World War II
(1939–45)A war fought between the Axis Powers and the Allies, including Britain, the Soviet Union, and the USA. Having secretly rearmed Germany, Hitler occupied (1936) the Rhineland, in contravention ...
