Description
Book SynopsisIn 1918, the Royal Air Force became the first major independent air force in the world. Formed to serve a strategic need in the most intensive war that Britain had then fought, the RAF continued in the inter-war era to play a key role in the political and diplomatic world, and in defending the Empire. During the Second World War, the RAF was pivotal in defending Britain from invasion in the Battle of Britain, and then in leading the assault on the Axis powers, most notably through the contentious bomber offensive against Germany. In the post-war world, the RAF adapted and developed into a force to meet the needs of the United Kingdom during the Cold War, the retreat from Empire, and most recently in the move to coalition warfare against low intensity threats, all against a backdrop of diminishing resources and shifting priorities. This is the story of the RAF over the first century of its existence: how it has confronted the many challenges and threats it has faced -- from the Luftwaff
Trade ReviewThis book is superbly written and expertly researched. It will soon become the first port of call for anyone seeking an authoritative account of the Royal Air Force in its first hundred years. Its arguments are persuasive and it is clearly evident that the authors are intimately aware of the areas of historical debate. * Dr Peter Gray, Senior Research Fellow in Air Power Studies, University of Birmingham *
This is a work for the serious student of military history and is a must for the aviation academic. Buckley has yet again proven his mettle as an aviation historian as this book will become required reading as much as his earlier work on airpower. The publishing of this work is not only timely and fitting, but serves as a cornerstone for serious study not just for the RAF but military aviation in general. * John M. Curatola, War in History *
Table of ContentsIntroduction: One Hundred Years of the Royal Air Force 1: Formation 2: Imperial Policing in the Interwar Era 3: The Road to War: 1932-1939 4: The RAF in the Second World War: The Defensive 1939-1942 5: The Bomber Offensive: 1939-1945 6: The RAF in the Second World War: The Offensive 1942-1945 7: The RAF Enters the Nuclear Age 8: Cold War in Europe: 1945-1989 9: The Wider World: 1945-1992 10: The RAF in Small Wars 11: War in the Gulf and Other Not So Small Wars 12: Future Proofing the RAF Notes Index
