The Library

The Club Library is entered through the Churchill Bar on the ground floor. It was started in 2002 following a very large donation of books by the aviation artist Frank Wootton. The collection has steadily grown and there are now almost 3500 books related to aviation and the story of the Royal Air Force from the First World War to the present day.

The library is managed by a small team of volunteers who are normally present on Wednesdays from 11.00 am until 3.00 pm. They will be happy to show you around the library, explain its workings and demonstrate the borrowing procedure.

To contact the Librarians, please email library@rafclub.org.uk

The Catalogue

The catalogue is directly accessible online or on the two Apple computers in the Library. Searching is simple, instructions are included and are set out on the computer desks.

The books are arranged in broad categories, including Aircraft, Commands, Squadrons, Operational Techniques and Campaigns, include books on the two world wars, the Suez Crisis, the Cold War, Vietnam, Korea, the Falklands, the Gulf War, Afghanistan and Libya, to mention but a few. There is also a large collection of biographies and memoirs and a new section containing lighter reading and fiction.

For those who prefer to browse the shelves, there are diagrams showing the locations of the various categories on the computer desks and by the door to the Churchill Bar.

Download the Catalogue

Using the Library

Procedure for borrowing books

Members are welcome to borrow books at any time. Simply fill in a Loan Sheet (to be found on the librarian’s desk) and place it in the box provided. Books should be returned within a month.

When returning books by hand, please remember to return them to Reception, not the Library. The librarians will collect and re-shelve them when on duty. If you are not revisiting the Club, please return books by post.

Members staying at the Club
You may borrow books to read in your room. No loan form is needed – simply return the books to Reception.

New additions to the Library
If you would like to suggest a book for purchase or have a query, please email in the first instance library@rafclub.org.uk. 
Whilst the Library team welcome offers of donations, please do not send books until the librarians have confirmed that they do not duplicate works already in the library.

Download the Categories

Library News - Spring 2023

All the books in the catalogue are now listed on the two Apple computers at the far end of the library. They also contain a facility to search for a book either by its title or by the author’s name.

Recent additions to the stock include:

H1 NAS - 3641

The Few Who Flew: RAF National Service Pilots 1955-57 (Pub 2022), Michael Naseby

H1 COU - 3655

Joy Cousins: A Woman in a Man’s World (Pub 2022), Joy Cousins

H1 COV - 3629

Fighter Pilot from Cold War Jets to Spitfires -  B of B Memorial Flight (Pub 2021), Christopher Coville

F2 - BON

Battle of Berlin: Failed to Return (Pub 2017), Steve Bond & others

H1 McC - 3637

Chinook Crew “Chick”: Memoirs of a female Chinook crew member (Pub 2022), Liz McConaghy

H1 MOU - 3653

Free French Spitfire Hero: The Diaries of and Search for Rene Mouchotte (Pub 2022), Dilip Sarkar & Jan Leeming

H1 SAR - 3649

“Sailor” Malan : Freedom Fighter and Spitfire Ace (Pub 2021), Dilip Sarkar