Shortly after being appointed Director of Defence Studies in 1977, Air Vice-Marshal (Retd) Tony Mason, CB CBE DL, embarked on a project to capture the thoughts and opinions of leading RAF figures from the Second World War onwards. These rarely seen before historic interviews are now being published by RAF CAPS.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the formation of the RAF, this month’s video will focus on the memory of the ‘Father of the Royal Air Force’ and the first Chief of the Air Staff, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard, GCB OM GCVO DSO. In this video, Thomas Trenchard, 2nd Viscount Trenchard MC, discusses his father with Group Captain (later Air Vice-Marshal) Tony Mason at the RAF Staff College, Bracknell in April 1980. Drawing from personal recollections and papers in order to, in his own words, give a ‘feel of the man’, Thomas Trenchard outlines the life and times of his father from childhood up to, and including, his days as the Chief of the Air Staff from the unique perspective of a son. In doing so, this interview offers a rare insight into the nature of one the Titans in the history of the RAF, Sir Hugh ‘Boom’ Trenchard.
If you would like to see further videos in this series then check out the RAF CAPS playlist on the RAF YouTube Channel here.
