Meeting: John Slessor - The Architect of Britain's Airborne Nuclear Deterrent.

During WWI Slessor joined the Royal Flying Corps – No 17 Squadron in the Middle East, where he won the MC. Then No.5 Squadron, Western Front,  and was awarded the Croix de Guerre. Between the wars he served with No.4 Squadron, RAF, in England and No 3 Squadron (Indian Wing) earning his DSO for operations in Wuziristan.                                

During WWII he was Air Officer Commanding Coastal Command and was credited with doing much to turn the tide against the U Boat scourge in the Battle of the Atlantic. Bill commented that Slessor was also at the Casablanca Conference, where he had a major involvement and played a key role in its resolution.                                                        

He was Chief of the Air Staff (C.A.S.) between January 1950 and December 1952 at a time of heightened Cold War confrontation. Mainstream Cold War historians usually concentrate on the key politicians, international crisis and the threat of nuclear weapons. However, little attention has been paid to the influence of Britain’s senior military leaders on defence policy, of whom he was a notable example. Bill argues that Slessor is an unsung Cold War strategist who played the pivotal role in making British Nuclear deterrence a physical reality. Slessor’s very active involvement ensured the implementation and build-up of the RAF’s complement of strategic jet bombers. It was Jack Slessor who first coined the phrase ‘The ‘V’ Force’. That policy of defence through nuclear deterrence established the bedrock of British strategic defence thinking that continues to the present day.  

Bill will take us through the ‘smoke and mirrors’ that was Cold War strategy together with it’s political manoeuvring. Through the use of photographs, charts and maps Bill will seek to reinforce his belief that Sir John Slessor was truly a prime influence in formulating Britain’s airborne nuclear deterrent and the means to deliver it.