Aviation Historian
For Valour : 2nd Lieutenant William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse VC
26 April 2025
Lieutenant Rhodes-Moorhouse has the distinction of being the first aviator to be awarded the Victoria Cross
![For Valour: 2nd Lt. (Temporary Captain) [later Major] James Byford McCudden, DSO*, MC*, MM, Croix de Guerre, General List and Royal Flying Corps.](https://assets.rafmuseum.org.uk/app/uploads/2025/04/05102634/1.jpg)
For Valour: 2nd Lt. (Temporary Captain) [later Major] James Byford McCudden, DSO*, MC*, MM, Croix de Guerre, General List and Royal Flying Corps.
2 April 2025
Captain McCudden's Victoria Cross is exceptional as it was awarded, not for one particular event of Valour, but for his long fighting career.
For Valour: Lieutenant Alan Jerrard, Royal Air Force VC, MVB
30 March 2025
Lieutenant Jerrard was a member of 66 Squadron based at San Pietro-in-Gu, just north of Gossa.
For Valour: 2nd Lieutenant Alan Arnett McLeod, VC Royal Air Force
27 March 2025
On 27 March, McLeod was undertaking a bombing attack in FK 8 serial B5773 with Lieutenant Hammond MC as his Observer when they came under fierce fire.
For Valour : Lieutenant Francis Hubert (Frank) McNamara, VC, Australian Forces, Royal Flying Corps
20 March 2025
Frank McNamara had the distinction of being the only Australian to be awarded a Victoria Cross for aerial activities in the First World War.
For Valour : Flight Lieutenant William (Bill) Ellis Newton (Aus. 250748) VC, Royal Australian Air Force
17 March 2025
On 17 March 1943, Newton was captain and pilot of Boston serial A28-3, coded DU-Y. He was tasked with attacking the Japanese port of Salamaua
On This Day In History : 4 February 1945
4 February 2025
80 years ago today, 4 February 1945, Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt met in Yalta to map out the world's future after the Second World War.
For Valour: Serjeant Thomas Mottershead (1396) VC, Royal Flying Corps
7 January 2025
Serjeant Mottershead was a member of 20th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, based at Clairmarais, to the east of St-Omer in northern France.
For Valour : Acting Squadron Leader Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer (115772) VC DFC*
23 December 2024
Squadron Leader Palmer commanded 109 Squadron of Mosquitoes of the Path Finder Force (PFF), based at RAF Little Staughton.
For Valour : Squadron Leader Arthur Stewart King Scarf (37693) VC Royal Air Force
9 December 2024
On 9 December 1941, Squadron Leader Scarf was attached to 62 Squadron, operating from RAF Butterworth.
For Valour : Acting Wing Commander Hugh Gordon Malcolm (33322) VC Royal Air Force
4 December 2024
Malcolm was formation leader and captain and pilot of Blenheim V serial BA 875, coded 'W' on 4 December 1942. His fateful flight started at 15.15 hrs.
For Valour : Flight Sergeant Rawdon Hume Middleton (Aus. 402745) VC Royal Australian Air Force
29 November 2024
Flight Sergeant Middleton was a member of 149 Squadron, 3 Group, Bomber Command, based at RAF Lakenheath.
For Valour : Acting Flight Lieutenant William Reid (122438) VC Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3 November 2024
On the night of November 3rd, 1943, Flight Lieutenant Reid was pilot and captain of a Lancaster aircraft detailed to attack Dusseldorf.
For Valour : Captain (Acting Major) William George Barker VC DSO** MC** Royal Air Force
27 October 2024
On 27 Oct 1918, Flt Lt Barker was piloting Sopwith Snipe E8102 as part of 201 Squadron based at La Targette airfield when he engaged the enemy.
Harrier GR3 XZ997: The Journey of a Falklands Veteran
18 October 2024
Among the many aircraft that have graced the skies, the Hawker Siddeley Harrier “Jump Jet” stands out as a marvel of aviation engineering. One Harrier
For Valour : Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Andrew Frederick Weatherby Beauchamp-Proctor
8 October 2024
Lieutenant Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor received the Victoria Cross for extraordinary bravery, achieving 54 victories during the First World War.
The Royal Air Force and Operation Market Garden: Chapter 6
27 September 2024
In this final chapter of his blog series about Operation Market Garden Norman Brice looks at history's judgement of the campaign.
The Royal Air Force and Operation Market Garden: Chapter 5
26 September 2024
The attack to seize the Arnhem bridges having failed, the task falling to the troops remaining at the landing areas was solely to defend themselves.
For Valour: Flight Lieutenant David Samuel Anthony Lord
19 September 2024
Flt Lt Lord was assigned to 271 Squadron, 46 Group, based at RAF Down Ampney. On 19 Sept 1944 he was about to participate in Operation Market.
The Royal Air Force and Operation Market Garden: Chapter 3
17 September 2024
In this latest chapter we look at the role of the RAF delivering much needed men and equipment into the field of operations.