Product Description

This accessible text tells the story of the most star-studded of fighter squadrons, the RFC, and its part in all the major battles of World War I, from Bloody April 1917, when the squadrons suffered enormous casualties, through Third Ypres and Passchendaele to the chaotic retreat from Ludendorff's offensive. Drawing extensively from letters and diaries of the men who took part, Ralph Barker creates a bird's eye view of the battleground from the menacing skies above France and brings fresh off the page the exhiliration of combat, the debility of the "shakes", the grit of observers and gunners, the strain of low-level flying, the bonding of pilot and ground mechanic, and the awareness of tragedy as brave men gave their lives.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #372295 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Review
'Ralph Barker has written a masterly anecdotal history of the flying war over France, and the courageous 'bird-men', who gave such dedicated support to the regiments deadlocked in the trenches beneath them' - Daily Telegraph

About the Author
Ralph Barker joined the RAF in 1940 after a career as a journalist. He is a well known military aviation historian and author of numerous books and articles.

Customer Reviews

BEST BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS YET WRITTEN
This book is AN ABSOLUTE GEM for anyone with even the slightest interest in First World War aviation.

Ralph Barker has written a highly readable and comprehensive account of the development of Britain's Royal Flying Corps (RFC) between August 1914 and March 1918. From the first pages, the reader is made witness to the growing pains of an air arm which, from the onset of war, worked mightily to fulfil the roles given to it by the British Army in France. Whether it was in the areas of reconnaissance, artillery spotting, bombing, and later in the role of achieving aerial supremacy over the battlefield and beyond the lines, the RFC adapted itself well, and in the process, laid the groundwork for the establishment of the world's first independent air force, the Royal Air Force, on April 1, 1918.

This is not a dry history. Mr. Barker also provides through letters and diaries, vivid and poignant accounts from the pilots, observers, and ground crews themselves into what the war was like for them. Thus, the reader is given a full scope into the history and personalities who shaped the RFC. Highly recommended.

Excellent with a capital E!
This covers the same ground as Nigel Steel and Peter Hart's Tumult in the Clouds. In fact as both books are superb introductions to the RFC I couldn't recommend one over the other, so buy them both (although Tumult in the Clouds appears to be out of print) - either way you won't be disappointed. It's rare that a subject finds itself covered by two outstandingly well researched books.

It's easy for modern day readers to overlook WW1 aviation, seduced as we are by Spitfires and Tomcats, but the aerial combat was as nasty, fast and vicious as any ever fought - arguably more so given the lack of training and parachutes. Both books explain exactly why the RFC was THE outstanding air arm of the war - unlike the French or the Germans who tended to spread their forces in a vain attempt to cover the whole front line, the RFC concentrated their aircraft over crucial battle zones and thus, despite appalling losses, almost never lost local air superiority over a battlefield. The Red Baron may have grabbed all the headlines but it was the RFC who consistently won the day.