British Air Forces 1914-18 (2)

by CORMACK, ANDREWCORMACK, PETER

• ISBN13: 9781841760025
• ISBN10: 1841760021
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2001-03-25
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

The outbreak of World War I found the British Army's Royal Flying Corps with just over 200 fragile, unarmed reconnaissance aircraft, and a uniformed strength of just over 2,000 all ranks; the Royal Naval Air Service had some 50 seaplanes. By the Armistice of 1918 the unified Royal Air Force was the largest in the world, with about 22,650 aeroplanes - including a strategic bomber force - and 27,330 men operating from some 700 bases. This second in a two-part study covers RAF, WRAF and RAFNS uniforms from the unification of the service in April 1918; and the whole span of flying clothing during the Great War.

Author Biography

Andrew Cormack took his degree in Modern History from the University of London and then worked briefly for the Imperial War Museum in London. In 1979 he moved to the Royal Air Force Museum and now holds the position of Keeper of Visual Arts, Medals and Uniforms. In 1990 Osprey published his Men-At-Arms 225, a study of RAF uniforms and flying clothing of the Second World War. Apart from aviation he is a specialist in the British army of the 18th century and sits on the Council of the Society for Army Historical Research.

Table of Contents

The Royal Air Force	3	(12)
Service Dress -- Officers
Service Dress -- Non-Commissioned Officers and Airmen
Badges
Tropical Service Dress -- Officers
Tropical Service Dress -- NCOs and Other Ranks
The Women's Royal Air Force	15	(5)
Service Dress -- Officers
Service Dress -- Members
Badges
Working Clothing
Royal Air Force Nursing Service	20	(3)
Flying Clothing	23	(17)
Headgear
Goggles
Oxygen Equipment
Clothing
Electrically Heated Clothing
Gloves
Footwear
Safety Equipment	40	(3)
Life Preservers
Parachutes and Harnesses
Bibliography	43	(1)
The Plates	44	(4)
Index	48