The Richard Holmes Lectures are a series of annual talks on battlefield- and military history-related topics, given in memory of the late professor, who did so much to raise popular and specialist interest in these subjects. They are sponsored on a rotating basis by the Battlefields Trust, the British Commission for Military History and the International Guild of Battlefield Guides; this year’s host is the Guild.
The 2024 Richard Holmes Lecture will be held on Tuesday 19th November at the Royal College of Defence Studies, Seaford House, 37 Belgrave Square, Belgravia, London. Doors will open at 1800; drinks and light refreshments will be available before the lecture begins at 1900.
The presentation will be given by Christopher Finn, MPhil, FRAeS, FHEA and Accreditation Director, International Guild of Battlefield Guides; the subject of the lecture is “Air Control from the Sea: Tactical Air Command & Control during Operation Neptune”.
The talk will examine the development of expeditionary air command and control (C2) in the European Theatre in 1942 and 1943; examine the problems facing the planners for the air aspects of Operation Neptune; describe the solutions arrived at; explain how they were implemented; examine the problems that occurred, and the successes; the implications of these factors in the different conduct of day and night air defence; and briefly describe the subsequent uses of sea-based air C2 in the final year of the war in Europe. It will be shown that the solutions employed to deliver continuous C2 of Allied airpower, in the transition from bases in the UK to ones in France, were specific to that situation. And, whilst the ability to control air support assets from the naval HQ ships proved to be of limited value, the ability to control day and night fighters from the Fighter Direction Tenders was of significant value and employed for much longer than envisaged.
Directions: Seaford House is situated on the main square in Belgravia. It is in between and a short walk from three tube stations; Hyde Park Corner on the Piccadilly Line, Victoria on the Victoria Line & Sloane Square on the District/Circle Lines.
The cost of attending the lecture will be £35.00. To obtain tickets please complete the application form here Richard Holmes lecture Application Form | British Commission for Military History (bcmh.org.uk) and forward it to the Guild Secretary, Tim Stoneman, either by email or by post (email and postal addresses on application form), together with the remittance (BACS transfer preferred, or by cheque) Applications are required by 3 November in order to confirm catering arrangements