BFBS Stories

We follow 32 (The Royal) Squadron, who provide Command Support Air Transport from their home base of RAF Northolt.

In 1968 a series of programmes were made documenting the histories of the squadrons based at RAF Akrotiri at the time. Now, 50 years on and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force, we are revisiting those squadrons still in existence to see where they are and how much has changed. This 30-minute special looks at the work of 32 Squadron.

Sit back, strap in and enjoy the world's first ever bom-com (bomber comedy). Could this be the birth of a new genre?

It was a sound that filled the air for more than 50 years. Heralded for its role in the Falklands War, it rated a 10 on the RAF's Howl scale. Now you can hear a unique Radio experience from Richard Hatch and Hal Stewart. A documentary like no other on the Avro Vulcan!

Four entertaining and inspiring Chelsea Pensioners talk to Richard Hatch and Hal Stewart.

Recorded at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Cassidy Little is now an actor and presenter and has appeared in Coronation Street and Midsomer Murders. He also danced his way to winning ‘The People’s Strictly for Comic Relief.

Before that he served as a medic in the Royal Marines, losing a leg in an explosion in Afghanistan.

Hear about Cassidy’s life as a Royal Marine on the front line, his time at Headley Court rehabilitation centre and get a glimpse of the sacrifices made by those who serve.

Richard Hutchinson revisits D-Day through the story of HMS Medusa which was deployed as a Navigation Leader during Operation Neptune. For 30 hours she withstood enemy gunfire while acting as a marker to guide American troops through German minefields and onto Omaha beach.

Richard visits the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth, the famous map room in Southwick House, where President Eisenhower gave the orders for D-Day and goes on board the iconic motor launch with veterans as they retrace part of their journey in the Solent.

The Supermarine Spitfire is widely acknowledged as the iconic aircraft that won the Battle of Britain and ultimately influenced the outcome of the Second World War.

But many of the history books which credit the creation of the aircraft to designer RJ Mitchell make little or no mention of the extraordinary women who are also part of the story.

Amy Casey talks to aviation historian Paul Beaver about these incredible women who designed, perfected, built and flew the aircraft that would become the symbol of Britain’s victory. You’ll also hear about the women who gave financial backing to the project, such as suffragette Lady Lucy Houston.

This programme was made in 2016 to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Spitfire’s first flight.

During Op Herrick 17, Richard Hutchinson was given unprecedented access to medics serving in Afghanistan. Here he follows the route of those injured in battle from the point of injury, through the trauma room at Camp Bastion and back to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

This programme was Highly Commended at the 2014 AIB Awards (Association for International Broadcasting).