Academic Prize Winners for 2024 Announced
Published on: 17 February 2025
The Royal Air Force Museum is delighted to announce the winners of its academic awards to Doctoral, Masters and Undergraduate students. The prize winners for 2025 are Oliver Nobbs (MA), Kenneth Fuchter (MA runner-up) and Amy Hill (PhD).
These awards are made to final year students, without regard to nationality or academic affiliation, on the recommendation of a selection panel composed of members of the RAF Museum’s Research Board. The bursary and prizes are awarded for writing in the field of ‘air power studies’ in the broadest sense, encompassing areas including but not limited to: the history of air warfare; archaeology, international relations; strategic studies and social and cultural histories. This year’s applications were assessed during the course of 2023.
Our Masters Prize Winner is Oliver Nobbs (University of Salford) for his thesis entitled ‘The Shaping of the V-Force: the Influence of Political and Diplomatic Factors on Decision Making Regarding the British Sovereign Airborne Nuclear Deterrent, July 1945 to June 1969.’ The judges felt that his work was a well-written, original piece of research that was well-supported with a broad range of relevant sources. They found his work an enjoyable read.
Our Masters Prize Runner-Up is Kenneth Fuchter (King’s College London) for his thesis entitled ‘What are the Lessons from Russian Air Power Employment in the Battle of Kyiv?’ The judges commended his research, noting the array of sources utilised, and felt his methodology and content was exceptional.
Our PhD Bursary Winner is Amy Hill (Newcastle University) for her thesis entitled ‘How does the gendered labour market impact social construction and culture development in the Royal Air Force? An intersectional perspective.’ The judges felt that felt that the sample chapter was well-researched and set up the thesis with admirable clarity. The panel found the chapter to be well-written, and they found the approach by Hill to ground themself within the research illuminating.
The winners of the RAF Museum Awards will be invited to attend the RAF Museum’s 2025 Conference, where they will be formally presented with their awards.
Details of how to apply for one of the RAF Museum’s 2025 Academic Awards will be shared later in the year. If you would like further information, then email the RAF Museum’s Historian and Academic Access Manager Dr Megan Kelleher (megan.kelleher@rafmuseum.org).