History of the RAF

London: Hamlyn. Very Good/Very Good. 1977. Hard Cover. 4to 0600375889 Dust jacket complete, unclipped. Original cloth boards with bright gilt titling on spine. No ownership marks. numerous colour and b/w illustrations. 224 pages clean and tight. The RAF was probably the most illustrious flying unit to participate in World War II. Its origins in the Royal Flying Corps gave the nascent Royal Air Force experience which it put to good use a generation later. From the early Spads and Sopwiths which fought against the Fokkers of the Richthofen Squadron over France, pilots and the manufacturers of aircraft in Britain learned some valuable lessons. Although the RFC was a colourful adjunct to trench warfare in 1914-18, the use of aircraft in the next war was seen by most observers to be far from peripheral. The Spitfires and Hurricanes which were developed in the 1930s were to save Britain in her 'finest hour'. The Lancaster bombers of the RAF were to make fiery infernos of the cities of Germany in the strategic bombing offensive which followed the Battle of Britain. In World War II the RAF distinguished itself in every theatre of the conflict: from Dunkirk to the Desert, from Italy to D-Day and beyond. Its heroes were legendary. Quiet men like Hugh Dowding, who supervised Fighter Command in 1940; and less quiet ones, like 'Bomber' Harris, the mastermind of the strategic bombing offensive over Germany. In Europe and the Far East British air power defeated the enemy and brought victory to the Allies. The History of the RAP and the technical qualities of British warplanes from World War I to the present day is told by CHAZ BOWYER, whose 26-year career in the RAF and 13 books on the subject of the aircraft and men of the RAF, rank him among the foremost experts in the world on British aircraft and the men who flew in them. The authoritative text as well as over 300 illustrations make this History of the RAF a standard reference work for every lover of aircraft. .