Steve Richards’ article explores the rationale behind the Blitz during WWII, detailing how the term likely arose during intense German raids over London in September 1940. The Luftwaffe’s strategy evolved from targeting airfields to focusing on urban centers, with the aim of demoralizing the British public and disrupting industrial production. Göring’s strategy, driven by inaccurate intelligence, mistakenly assumed RAF Fighter Command was near defeat. However, constant nighttime bombing failed to achieve strategic goals, as it overstretched the Luftwaffe and strengthened British resolve. While initially seen as potentially devastating, the Blitz did not collapse British war production or morale, revealing the limitations of strategic bombing.

In July 1941’s Operation Substance, Fleet Air Arm pilots Richard Cockburn and Alistair Kindersley bravely attacked overwhelming Italian air forces threatening a Malta convoy. Both were shot down after disrupting the attack. Cockburn survived and received the DSO, while Kindersley’s proposed posthumous Victoria Cross was controversially rejected, receiving only a Mention in Despatches.

Geoff Simpson’s article describes the creation and expansion of the Database of The Few, who are the Allied airmen of the Battle of Britain, detailing their biographies and service records. Originating from Kenneth G Wynn’s book, the work involved transferring rights and publication efforts with support from the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. The Database offers detailed accounts for historians, authors, and researchers, and is maintained in cooperation with other memorial efforts, aiming to preserve the rich histories and stories of the individuals involved.

As tensions continue to disrupt global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Dr Linda Parker argues that the present crisis cannot be fully understood — or resolved — without examining the centuries-long struggle for control of the Persian Gulf