The RAF - 1918¿2018

For a hundred years the Royal Air Force has been at the forefront of the UK-s defences. In the 1920s and 1930s, the RAF protected Britain-s empire; during the Second World War it played a key role in defeating the Axis; and through the 1950s and 1960s it was a key part of Britain-s nuclear deterrent. Julian Hale examines the history of the RAF through its organisation, personnel, aircraft and campaigns, from the biplanes of the First World War, through its -Finest Hour- in 1940 and the dawn of the jet age to today-s hi-tech aircraft and the emerging role of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Enriched with personal accounts and a wealth of photographs, this book provides a concise introduction to the world-s first air force.