RAF Museum Podcasts

This Month: The Royal Air Force in 1918

The Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 as the independent air arm of Britain's armed forces, amalgamating the RFC and RNAS. This momentous event was met with very little fanfare or celebration for the First World War had reached a critical point and efforts were, understandably, concentrated elsewhere. Just over a week before, the German Army had broken through the British front line on the Somme and both the British and French armies were in full retreat. The outcome of the War hung in the balance.

This Month: Lucky Charms

Flying has always been a relatively dangerous thing to do, and this was especially true in the early days of aviation, and in wartime. For luck, many pilots took with them special items like rabbits feet and toy bears. In this podcast, one of our curators gives an overview of a new exhibition at Cosford where you can see some of these items in our collection and learn more about the pilots who carried them.

Hendon Air Displays and Pageants

This podcast recalls the thrills and spills of Hendon's inter-war heyday, from the very first RAF Pageant in 1920 to the organised masterpieces of the late 1930s.

In 1920 the RAF Pageant was held at Hendon. It was the first of many held here during the twenties and thirties.

For most people it was their only chance to see the skills of RAF pilots. People could compare modern aircraft with those of World War I and see the latest developments in the "New and Experimental Types Park". Hundreds of thousands of people visited the displays, which became important events in the social calendar.