Royal Flying Corps

[alanthevet]

Could anybody recommend a decent book covering the history of the RFC?

Something readable preferably!

What about this one:

A Brief History of the Royal Flying Corps in World War One (Brief Histories Series)

by Ralph Barker

I can't see any mention of one in the book section.

Thanks,

Alan

[Ali Hollington]

I have the above, but it is in my to read pile. If there is something in particular you want looking up let me know, I'm away from home for the next day or so if noone else comes up with an answer fire away.

Ali

[Tom Morgan]

Hi, Alan,

Ralph Barker has also written "ROYAL FLYING CORPS IN FRANCE - From Mons To The Somme" and "ROYAL FLYING CORPS IN FRANCE - From Bloody April 1917 To Final Victory" both available from Ray Westlake.

Tom

[gem22]

Alan

Ralph Barker has two books on the History of the Royal Flying Corps. From Mons to the Somme, ISBN 0094684502 and, Bloody April to Final Victory ISBN 0094765502.

Both are worth reading and are a good starting point for developing further interests.

Garth

[Dolphin]

Alan

You might be interested in Nigel Steel and Peter Hart's 'Tumult in the Clouds' ISBN 0 340 63846 X. It covers pretty much the same ground as Ralph Barker's book, but there's coverage of different airmen. Like the Barker book, it's very readable.

If you want a more technical volume on the RFC, try Peter Cooksley's 'The RFC/RNAS Handbook' ISBN 0 7509 2169 2. This book gives more information on the machines flown, organisation, uniforms, etc, but is still a good read.

There are lots of specialist books on aircraft and particular airmen, one of which might be worth looking at is: 'British and Empire Aces of World War I' by Christopher Shores ISBN 1 84176 377 2. It's one of a series dealing with aces of all nationalities who flew various aircraft types, eg Nieuports, SPAD VII, SPAD XIII, Sopwith Camel, Sopwith Dolphin and Snipe, and so on. The careers of the aces are very well documented, perhaps to the detriment of the observation and bomber crews.

Then there's the six volumes of 'The War in the Air' . . .

I hope this helps.

Gareth

[alanthevet]

You might be interested in Nigel Steel and Peter Hart's 'Tumult in the Clouds' ISBN 0 340 63846 X. It covers pretty much the same ground as Ralph Barker's book, but there's coverage of different airmen. Like the Barker book, it's very readable.

Gareth,

Excuse my ignorance, but what do the codes beside the book names refer to - and how can I obtain those books?

Alan

[Dolphin]

Alan

The codes are the International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) and should help your bookseller or library to locate the volumes you want. The ISBN shouldn't change if the book is re-titled. The books I mentioned, like the excellent Barker book (which was recently released in one volume in paperback - the ISBN is 1 84119470 0) are all recent publications, ie in the last couple of years, so a good bookshop should be able to find them.

Another book you might find useful is Dennis Winter's 'The First of the Many' ISBN 0 7139 1278 2. It was first published a decade or so ago, but is worth looking for as it's a good general study of [mainly British] fighter pilots in the War and covers things like training, tactics, medical problems associated with flying, and lots more.

As you read into RFC history, you'll find that the fighter pilots are well documented in print, while the exploits of their bomber and reconnaisance colleagues have gone without anywhere near the same coverage.

I hope this helps. If you find that you would like to read more on the aviation side of the War, there are lots more books out there. Just ask if you'd like some more recommendations.

Cheers

Gareth