THE TRADITION IS SAFE — A History of the Royal Air Force —
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Characteristics
| Book cover finish(es) | Stapled |
| Condition | VG |
| Author(s) | Michael A Fopp |
| Publisher | Royal Air Force Museum |
| Number of pages | 36 |
| Published date | 2009 |
| Language(s) | English |
| Size | 21 x 29.7 x 0.3 cm |
| Categorie(s) | • AVIATION MILITAIRE • BEAUX-LIVRES |
Description
On 17 December 2003 the world celebrated the centenary of the first powered flight by the Wright brothers in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Whilst this was an achievement of global significance carried out in the United States it was, in fact, the culmination of a global challenge with input from many nations. Balloons and gliders preceded that historic controllable heavier-than-air flight and the Wright brothers had leaned heavily on advice and research carried out by pioneers in, particularly, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.
Nevertheless, the achievement was the catalyst which forced ahead the new technologies of spruce and fabric powered by internal combustion engines and whirling propellers. Most new technologies are embraced by the military in a short time and such was the case with powered flight. However, no country in the world embraced it quite as quickly as those countries in Northern Europe facing as they were what would become known as the Great War. The British were the first to form an independent Air Force and as such the Royal Air Force has a longer association with flight than any other air arm in the world.
Furthermore, it has a characteristically British way of doing things which led to combine the regulation of both the civil and military flying in a single government department. In so doing the development of aviation in the United Kingdom was greatly eased by an initial crossover of technology between the civil and the military. Thus the Royal Air Force had pioneered almost every facet of atmospheric flight. It has, at various points in its long and proud history been the holder of world records for long distance, high altitude and speed. It has been a beacon to other countries in its leadership and promotion of air power.
It was the first air force in the world to win a decisive battle in the air. That battle, in 1940, stemmed the tide of Nazi advance and helped to preserve the peace and freedoms we all enjoy today. Its innovative use of tactical support of troops on the ground in North Africa, whilst mirroring techniques developed by the Germans, led the way to close support operations which are still used to this day. There has hardly been a year since its formation in 1918 that the Royal Air Force has not been on operational duty in areas of conflict at some part of the world.
In its earliest days it "showed the flag" of the British Empire but it has seamlessly moved forward with the times to become one of the major humanitarian and peace keeping forces of the world. Whilst not the largest air force it is generally acknowledged to be one of the best, punching considerably over its weight in everything it does. The Royal Air Force is much more than the sum of its aircraft. It is a highly trained force of professionals dedicated to national defence and international duty. The majority of its serving members are to be found on the ground carrying out their tasks in support of the aircraft for which it is so well known.
This book seeks to provide the reader with a short history of this very special part of Great Britain's armed forces. It does so using the Royal Air Force's own Museums at Hendon and Cosford as a vehicle for illustrating the history of the Service through the artefacts and exhibits which have been retained for posterity.