Osprey Men-at-Arms 351 : British Air Forces (2) 1914-1918

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covers RAF, WRAF and RAFNS uniforms from the unification of the service in April 1918, including several previously unpublished features; and the whole span of flying clothing during the Great War, including details of early life jackets and parachutes. Text by Andrew Cormack with illustrations by Peter Cormack.

Contents

• Introduction
• Amalgamation
• The RAF 1918-1920
• The Women's Royal Air Force
• Flying Clothing & Equipment 1912-1920
• Bibliography
• Commentary on Colour Artwork