RAF. The Birth of the World's First Air Force

This book was presented to the Collection by Mr. Hubert Ross. The price quoted is our estimate of its value. The dizzying pace of technological change in the early 20th century meant that it took only a little over ten years from the first flight by the Wright Brothers to the clash of fighter planes in the war. A period of rapid experiment followed to gain a brief technological edge. By the end of the war, the British alone had lost 36,000 aircraft and 16,600 airmen. The RAF was created in 1918 as a revolutionary response to the new form of warfare.. This highly contentious decision was fought fiercely by both Army and Navy. This new book, which was first published in Britain by Pen & Sword, shows how this happened. The RAF's origins were more political than military and throughout the Twenties still provoked bitter criticism.