The RAF

From the end of the Royal Flying Corps, through the exploits of 'The Few' in the Battle of Britain and up to its service in modern conflicts in the Middle East, this is a beautifully illustrated history of the RAF.

For a hundred years, the Royal Air Force has been at the forefront of the UK’s defences. from the days of the British Empire, through the Second World War and into the 1950s and 1960s as 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.