In what ways has the creation and/or development of your site been influenced by the history of Britain during the period you have studied? OR in other words: How did the history of Britain (circa end of WW1 – 1945) play its part in the creation of RAF Davidstow? (and how did RAF Davidstow develop as history (events) changed?)

Political Influences : Where did Britain sit at end of WW1? Strongest Air Force in the world. What was the Impact of WW1 on British people and Government? Policy throughout the 1930s was primarily one of Appeasement. ** Not all voices were for Appeasement e.g. W.S. Churchill RESEARCH LINKhttp:// RESEARCH LINKhttp:// What Events in Europe create a call for ‘preparation’ in case of another conflict? 1. Hitler comes to power Hitler secretly begins to rearm Germany, including building an Air Force. RESEARCH 3. This violates the Treaty Of Versailles. RESEARCH 4. Disarmament talks collapse after Hitler withdraws Germany from the League of Nations. 5. On 5 May 1933 the German Air Ministry, with Hermann Göering as Reich Minister for Aviation (Reichsluftfahrtminister) was founded. RESEARCH LINKhttp:// Hitler boasts that the Luftwaffe = to the RAF (at this time it was certainly growing at a faster rate.)

Political Influences continued: What was Britain’s Response to Events in Germany? 1.RAF makes changes in response to events in Europe… ** Was it enough? Was it quick enough? RESEARCH LINK 2. RAF changes are aimed at expansion of the RAF and to prepare for war if diplomacy (Appeasement) fails. What were the changes?1934 Airfield Expansion Scheme. Explain why this was thought to be necessary /important? 3. Where was the expansion focussed? Why? 4. How does Cornwall ‘fit in’ to this scheme? Think St. Eval (1939) and the requirement for one airfield in the SW!! 5. RAF changes its internal structure? (Coastal Command) How does this link to Cornwall? 6. New Aircraft? How does this affect type of runways built?

Planning and Weaknesses of Planning during the Interwar years?? 1.Slow to recognise U-boat threat before the War started (Lessons not learned from WWI). 2.Slow to allocate suitable aircraft. 3.Priority given to RAF Bomber Command for aircraft and crews pdfhttp:// pdf (P.36 onwards) RESEARCH LINK

Military Influences (Tactical) **Remember RAF St. Eval operational in May 1940, Fall of France and Retreat from Dunkirk… 2.Britain stands alone against the German Reich. 3.Germany now has complete control of French airfields and French ports. Britain faces a heightened and very real threat of invasion. 4.The German Luftwaffe launches a series of attacks on Britain from the air. These are eventually known as the Battle of Britain (August 1940 through to October 1940) and the Blitz. 5.An invasion by sea, across the English Channel, never happens 6.February to May 1941 Cornwall and Devon are subjected to aerial attacks by the Luftwaffe. Falmouth, Exeter and Plymouth are especially badly hit.1000s of bombs, including incendiaries are dropped 7.German occupation of French ports and movement of U boats to ports like Brest/St. Nazaire means Cornwall and Devon are well placed for reconnaissance of U boat movements and strikes on U boat pens. German U boats NOW have swifter and easier access to Atlantic trade convoy routes so NEW airfields that can ‘track’ them become crucial in Battle of the Atlantic!! 8.NEW airfields built to counter German air offensive and to bolster 19 Group Coastal Command Operations in the Bay of Biscay, Southern Approaches and the Atlantic Ocean…SO RAF Davidstow et al. are built

Geographical Influences: 1.Needs to be near St Eval because…(Think bombing in 1941) 2.Needs to be higher than St Eval because…. BUT this causes what problems 3.Needs to be near the sea because… 4.Needs to have some visible land marking for aircraft…BUT this causes problems because…. 5.Need to be a ‘NEW’ design for heavier bombers because….

First paragraph is your introduction: What is RAF Davidstow? How does it fit into British History? (Built because of WW2…) Some contextual knowledge… 1.Cornwall