RAF POLICE - THE GREAT ESCAPE MURDERS

RAF POLICE - THE GREAT ESCAPE MURDERS (ISBN – Not assigned at this time) tells the remarkable story of the Great Escape made by British, Commonwealth and Allied prisoners-of-war from Stalag Luft III in March 1944; the brutal murder of fifty of the recaptured RAF officers by the Gestapo on the orders of Hitler; the story of those recaptured and sent to concentration camps; and, the subsequent complex post-war investigation, carried out by the Royal Air Force Police Special Investigation Branch, which identified, from the German High Command, those responsible in the conspiracy to murder the fifty as well as their Gestapo executioners.

Indeed, the wanted Gestapo and Criminal Police who had survived the war were swiftly hunted down in the chaos of worn-torn Europe and rounded up as war criminals by the small but dedicated RAF Police investigation team and brought to justice in Hamburg. Sixteen of those found guilty by the International and British War Crimes Tribunal were sentenced to death and were hanged at Nuremburg and Hamburg while a further four were hanged by the authorities in Czechoslavkia for a variety of war crimes against humanity; others found guilty by the tribunals of complicity received various terms of imprisonment.

Regrettably, a change in British government policy in 1948, prevented others arrested by the RAF Police from being prosecuted by the International War Crimes Tribunal and in most cases they walked away with blood on their hands as free men. This remarkable war crimes investigation, the only one of its kind entrusted to a British military police force, began at the end of 1945 and twenty-three years later in 1968 one of the last suspects in the case was traced and convicted by a West German Court for his part in the mass murder of RAF prisoners-of-war.

It is hoped that this book will be published in the autumn of 2009. Further details can be obtained by e-mailing the author stephendavies021@gmail.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Stop Press - The Great Escape: The Reckoning.
A one-hour documentary made by Electric Pictures of Australia and co-produced with Brook-Lapping, United Kingdom.

Directed by Steve Westh - Made for ABC, Channel Four (UK), and the History Channel (UK).

A gripping one-hour documentary drama that centres on the true story of the post-WWII investigation by the RAF Special Investigation Branch (RAF SIB) to hunt down the Gestapo henchmen who murdered 50 RAF and Commonwealth officer prisoners-of-war who were recaptured after taking part in the 'Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III in the spring of 1944.

Stephen R Davies, RAF Police Historian, acted as a consultant to the director and was interviewed on film for the documentary regarding the successful RAF SIB investigation. The documentary is expected to be shown on UK TV in the latter part of 2009.

THE DOCUMENTARY WAS SCREENED IN THE UK ON CHANNEL 4 ON MON 2 NOV 2009 at 9PM....... Google in the title to read the reviews, or see the documentary.

THOSE BLOOMIN’ SNOWDROPS

THOSE BLOOMIN’ SNOWDROPS (ISBN 1-84683-057-5) contains a collection of real-life anecdotes, humorous stories and cartoons, a number of which come from the 1950s when a minority of National Servicemen viewed the RAF Policeman as his biggest irritation. All the articles have been contributed by former RAF Policemen, otherwise known as the Snowdrops to the wider RAF community. It’s the type of book you can read sitting on the loo, but you might be inclined to stay longer than you should, or you can take it to bed and fall asleep chuckling without worrying about losing the plot, and of course, its great company while you’re in the car waiting for the wife or kids, but be warned, passers-by might think you’ve gone mad as they hear you crying out with laughter to yourself.

This book is sure to have its readers rolling around in fits of laughter as they read some of the antics that the RAF Police have been associated with. It is sure to appeal to any former Snowdrop, airman or airwoman, or indeed anyone with a wicked sense of humour.

(See Links Woodfield Publishing for how to order)

RAF POLICE - BOMBAY TO ASCENSION ISLAND 1918 - 2007

RAF POLICE - BOMBAY TO ASCENSION ISLAND (ISBN 1-84683-056-7) describes the wide-ranging police and security operations undertaken by the RAF Police between 1918 and 2007 in a vast area of the world stretching south from the Himalayas through Asia, Australasia, the American Continent and the islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. It includes Special Investigations, Counter-Intelligence, Air Transport Security and Canine operations undertaken by this unique branch of the RAF in Nepal, Pakistan, India, Ceylon, the Indian Ocean, the Far East, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Canada, the United States of America, Central America and finally the Falkland and Ascension Islands.

Soon after the formation of the RAF in 1918, members of the RAF Service Police began working alongside other RAF personnel at airfields in India. With the outbreak of World War II, the RAF quickly expanded both at home and abroad and so did the RAF Police. RAF deployments throughout India, Ceylon, the Far East and the Indian Ocean rapidly spread and additional numbers of RAF Police were established to support RAF commanders on the ground. Following the Japanese invasion of the Pacific Islands and the Far East, the RAF mounted operations mainly from within India in support of ground troops. After the detonation of Atomic bombs forced Japan to surrender, the RAF Police joined the British Commonwealth Occupation Force stationed in Japan.

In 1946 and 1947 violent post-war anti-colonial unrest within India saw the RAF Police at the very forefront in protecting RAF units and personnel and other Europeans from the daily threat of sectarian violence as well as assisting the civil authorities in maintaining law and order. Locally recruited RAF Police Auxiliaries were established in Singapore and were so successful that the scheme was quickly widened around the RAF world. During the Cold War and after the establishment of the Peoples’ Republic of China, the RAF Police were very much involved in fighting Communist guerrillas in the jungles of Malaya and Borneo. By then, RAF Police units were established in Malaya, Singapore, Ceylon, Gan and Hong Kong and were detached to Australia and Christmas Island to provide high-level security during British Atomic tests.

As the global political situation changed and the operational deployment range of military aircraft increased, the RAF withdrew from units within the region but maintained a presence in Hong Kong until it too was handed back to China in 1997. RAF Police were stationed in Belize in Central America as part of the British military presence to counter any threat of invasion by Guatemala and in 1982 RAF Police were established on the Falkland Islands after they had been forcibly recovered from Argentinean forces by a British task force. RAF Police were also established on Ascension Island and at Goose Bay in Canada and also detached to America, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands.

Illustrated with many photographs, and enlivened by first-hand accounts from former and serving members of the branch who were stationed within the region at the time of the events related, this easily readable book is full of interesting facts and is certain to be of great interest to those who served in the RAF Police. However, there is also much to be enjoyed by anyone with a general interest in the RAF or modern military history.

(See Links Woodfield Publishing for how to order)

RAF POLICE OPERATIONS - CAPE TOWN TO KABUL 1918 - 2006

RAF POLICE OPERATIONS - CAPE TOWN TO KABUL (ISBN 1-84683-019-2) describes in detail the wide ranging operations undertaken by units of the RAF Police from Cape Town in South Africa through Africa, Malta, Cyprus, the Middle East and Persia to Kabul in Afghanistan between 1918 and 2006.

After the formation of the RAF in 1918, members of the RAF Service Police were deployed on RAF airfields in Iraq, Palestine and in Egypt. After the outbreak of World War II, the RAF quickly expanded and so did the RAF Police. RAF deployments throughout Africa, Malta, Cyprus, the Middle East and Iraq rapidly spread and additional RAF Police units were formed to support RAF commanders on the ground.

Violent post-war anti-colonial unrest within Palestine and Egypt saw the RAF Police at the very forefront in protecting RAF units, aircraft, materiel and personnel from the daily threat of terrorism, sabotage, subversion, espionage and widespread pilfering. Additionally, similar RAF Police operations undertaken during the later Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, the Cypriot EOKA terrorist campaign, and the Yemeni backed guerrilla conflicts within Aden and Oman were effective in maintaining RAF security on the ground and in the air. As the global political situation changed and the operational range of military aircraft increased, the RAF withdrew from former units within the region but maintained an ever-ready presence on the troubled island of Cyprus. In recent times, the RAF Police have served alongside Coalition forces in both Gulf wars against Saddam Hussein, and during operations in Afghanistan against the Taliban and Al-Queda. Furthermore, they were involved in the rescue of British and foreign civilians from war-torn Beirut and were deployed to Sierra Leone in 2000 to support British military operations to stabilise the country after a bloody civil war.

This informative but easily readable book is illustrated with many photographs, and supported by many first-hand accounts from former and serving members of the branch who were stationed within the region at the time of the events. It is certain to be of great interest to those who served in the RAF Police. However, there is also much to be enjoyed by anyone with a general interest in the RAF or modern military history and current affairs.
(See Links Woodfield Publishing for how to order)

RAF POLICE OPERATIONS IN EUROPE 1918 - 2005

RAF POLICE OPERATIONS IN EUROPE (ISBN 1-84683-019-2) traces the development of the RAF Police and describes in detail the wide-ranging operations undertaken by this unpretentious but highly specialised branch of the Royal Air Force within Europe between 1918 and 2005.

Following the formation of the RAF in 1918, the new service remained dependent upon Army military police skills but in 1919, the transfer of responsibility for policing RAF units by the RAF Police was authorised and the last Army Officer at the Air Ministry responsible for police matters was replaced by an RAF Officer.

During World War II the RAF Police rapidly expanded to support war operations in the UK, Iceland and the Açores. They formed part of the British Expeditionary Force into France and were later deployed onto the Normandy beaches on D-Day to help liberate Europe from the Nazi regime. In late 1944 they became caught up in the Greek civil war, and at the end of hostilities the RAF Police had 21,000 men and women serving within its ranks.

On the 1st July 1947, with the subsequent growth of the officer corps, the Provost Branch was formally constituted by His Majesty, King George VI. In 1949 the RAF Police successfully concluded an investigation into the murder, by the Gestapo in 1944, of 50 RAF officers who took part in the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III. In September 1950, the King approved a badge for the RAF Police, with the motto, Fiat Justitia. Throughout the period of the Cold War the RAF Police were responsible for safeguarding nuclear weapons deployed on standby by the RAF. The RAF Police have supported operations in Northern Ireland and NATO and UN operations in the troubled Balkans.

This easily readable book has 12 chapters (including a complete chapter on Air Cdre Bill Kerby) and is illustrated with many photographs, and enlivened by many first-hand accounts from former and serving members of the branch. It is full of interesting facts and is certain to be of great interest to those who served in the RAF Police. However, there is also much to be enjoyed by anyone with a general interest in the RAF or modern military or European history.

(See Links Woodfield Publishing for how to order)

RAF POLICE DOGS ON PATROL

RAF POLICE DOGS ON PATROL (ISBN 1-903953-87-1) traces the deployment of dogs by the RAF between 1942 and 2005, during which time the RAF Police has earned a glowing reputation at home and abroad for the high standard of training exhibited by its dog teams and for its highly professional use of dogs for patrols and specialist duties.

The story begins in 1942, at the height of World War II, when Lieutenant Colonel Baldwin formed the Ministry of Aircraft Production Guard Dog School (MAPGDS) at Woodfold near Gloucester, turning out professionally trained RAF dog handlers which in turn released hundreds of men for war duties who had previously been employed as guards. In 1944 the MAPGDS was absorbed by the RAF Police and re-titled as the RAF Police Dog Training School and from that point on, the RAF Police excelled in the development and training of dogs for police and security purposes.

In 1949, the RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team appeared for the first time at the Royal Tournament in London and became an instant public success. In 1957 the first annual RAF Police Dog Championship Trials were held at Netheravon. In 1969 the Dog Demonstration Team covered 8,000 miles around the USA and Canada giving 65 public performances in 23 cities and became a favourite at every venue.

The RAF began training dogs to detect illicit drugs in 1970 and since 1971 RAF Police dogs on loan to HM Customs & Excise have recovered illicit drugs with a street value of many millions of pounds and are a significant deterrent to smugglers. Dogs were later successfully trained dogs to detect firearms and explosives.

This enjoyable book looks in detail at the development of the special relationship between the RAF Police and their dogs. Illustrated with many photographs, and enlivened by many first-hand accounts from former dog handlers, it is certain to be of great interest to those who served in the RAF, but there is also much to be enjoyed by anyone with a general interest in dogs or in their training and development for police and security purposes.

(See Links Woodfield Publishing for how to order)

THE BOOK 'FIAT JUSTITIA'

The Foreword by Air Commodore J L Uprichard CBE RAF
Provost Marshal (RAF) & Chief of Air Force Police (1997)

Following the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, the new Service remained dependent upon the Army military police skills until an integral Provost and Police Force could be established. In 1919, the transfer of responsibility for policing RAF stations and units was authorised, and the last Army Officer to hold an appointment at the Air Ministry responsible for police matters was replaced by an RAF Officer the following year. In 1931, the office of Provost Marshal (RAF) and Chief of Air Force Police was approved by King George V and, during the intervening 64 years, nineteen Provost Marshals have held office. The subsequent growth of the officer corps at home and abroad justified the formation of a specialist branch and, on 1 July 1947, the Provost Branch was constituted by His Majesty, King George VI. In September 1950, the King also approved a badge for the RAF Police which depicts a griffin passant - the heraldic device associated with guardianship, courage and audacity. The motto, `Fiat Justitia', may be freely translated as "Let justice be done". Indeed, the RAF Police is the only RAF trade to receive the honour of having it's own badge approved by the Monarch. As the 19th Provost Marshal, it gives me enormous pride and pleasure to commend this history to you. Stephen Davies has skilfully related world events with milestones in the history of a fine police service and, as befits the RAF Police Service antecedents of the author, the chronological style of his work provides clear but interesting reading. Although a relatively small cadre, the force has excelled in the provision of a professional police and security service to the RAF. Whether the reader is a serving or former RAF Policeman or woman, or anyone with an interest in modern military history, I am sure that all will enjoy this well researched account of a `Service Family' unit of which I am proud to be its latest surrogate father.

The book comprises 10 chapters, 2 Appendixes and is complimented with 34 photographs.

Chapter 1 - The Origins of the Provost
Chapter 2 - Formation of the RAF (1918 - 1939)
Chapter 3 - The War Years (1939 – 1945
Chapter 4 - The Post War Years (1945 - 1950)
Chapter 5 - The Cold War (1950 - 1959)
Chapter 6 - The End of an Empire (1959 - 1968)
Chapter 7- Fifty Years and Beyond (1968 - 1985)
Chapter 8 - Thawing of the Cold War (1985 - 1989)
Chapter 9 - A Time for Change (1989 - 1997)
Extra 'Chapter 10' now takes the book up to the year 2000..................

As a result of the original publisher going into liquidation in early 2002, ‘Fiat Justitia – A History of the RAF Police’ is no longer available for sale in hard form. However, an improved edition is still available on CD for you to read directly from your PC or to print off your own hard copy (THIS IS NOT A ‘TALKING BOOK’ CD AND CANNOT BE PLAYED ON YOUR MUSIC CD. YOU MUST HAVE A COMPUTER TO ACCESS THE CD)

This unique book on CD retails for:

£11-00p (incl P&P) within the UK,
£12-00p (incl P&P) to other locations outside the UK,

It can be purchased by e-mailling the author stephendavies021@gmail.com with your order. Sterling cheques or bankers drafts are to be made out to ‘Stephen R Davies’