In 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 Luftwaffe in 1940, through the spectre of nuclear holocaust in the Cold War, to the fight against terrorism in the 21st century -- and how it has contributed to the defence of the United Kingdom throughout that period.

About the Author
John Buckley is Professor of Military History at the University of Wolverhampton, where he has taught and researched since 1992. He is the author and editor of a range of books on aspects of twentieth-century military history, air power, and conflict studies, including The RAF and Trade Defence, 1919-1945 (1995) Air Power in the Age of Total War (1999) and Monty's Men: The British Army and the Liberation of Europe 1944-5 (2013) which won the 2014 Templer Medal (awarded annually to the author of the book deemed to have made the most significant contribution to the history of the British Army). Paul Beaver worked for five years on Jane's Defence Weekly, including spells as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, and has operated as a freelance war correspondent for Sky News in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Sierra Leone. He has written over 50 books on military history, including most recently Spitfire People (2015). He spent 27 years in Army Air Corps Reserves, is a qualified pilot, and is now Honorary Group Captain of No 601 (County of London) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

Reviews
This 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 *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198798033
Author John Buckley
Format Hardback
Page Count 276
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 418g
Dimensions(mm) 224mm * 143mm * 27mm