steve on Nostr: “RAF: The Birth of the World’s First Air Force” by Richard Overy ...
“RAF: The Birth of the World’s First Air Force” by Richard Overy
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Richard Overy, a British historian, wrote the origin story of the Royal Air Force in probably one of the most succinct histories I’ve read to date. Totaling just over 100 pages, this short history captures the birth of the RAF at the tail-end of WWI. Overy shows that the independent force was not born out of military necessity fighting the Germans, but rather a political process stemming from the limited bombings London succumbed to during the Great War. The psychological effect of the bombings, while negligible in relative terms, fueled the politics that produced the RAF. Despite the dubious efficacy that strategic bombing has on the psychology of civilian populations, Marshal Trenchard shaped the identity of the new force as it embraced strategic bombing as core to its ethos… and continued independence from the Royal Army & Navy. This book had interesting parallels for American air power, especially considering the RAF predates the USAF by nearly 30 years. This is a great short read that provides insights into military history, organizational theory, and government politics. 🎯🇬🇧
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Richard Overy, a British historian, wrote the origin story of the Royal Air Force in probably one of the most succinct histories I’ve read to date. Totaling just over 100 pages, this short history captures the birth of the RAF at the tail-end of WWI. Overy shows that the independent force was not born out of military necessity fighting the Germans, but rather a political process stemming from the limited bombings London succumbed to during the Great War. The psychological effect of the bombings, while negligible in relative terms, fueled the politics that produced the RAF. Despite the dubious efficacy that strategic bombing has on the psychology of civilian populations, Marshal Trenchard shaped the identity of the new force as it embraced strategic bombing as core to its ethos… and continued independence from the Royal Army & Navy. This book had interesting parallels for American air power, especially considering the RAF predates the USAF by nearly 30 years. This is a great short read that provides insights into military history, organizational theory, and government politics. 🎯🇬🇧