Afterburner Book Reviews THE

The first one hundred years By J Buckley and P Beaver

Oxford University Press, Oxford. 2018. xvi; 259pp. Illustrated. ISBN 978-0-19-879803-3.

Conceived in the midst of war through the 1917 Air Force (Constitution) Act, the formation of the Royal Air Force (RAF) on 1 April 1918 – through the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) – created “arguably the largest air force then in existence” (p 26) though the authors’ opening chapter concludes “in reality ... the Great War did a great deal more for air power than air power did for the war” (p 28) rather overlooking the personal sacrifice of the thousands of airmen who lost their lives in WW1. This sets for the tone for this revisionist Above: Short S25 Sunderland Coningham among others) supported by the Chain reassessment of the capabilities and effectiveness GRV, SZ589. Initially, the Home , Royal Observer Corps, Air Transport RAF struggled to hit a moving of the RAF during its first century, it being noted target at sea in WW2. Auxiliary and the massive acceleration in aircraft that it has “ ... only existed in an era of diminishing RAeS (NAL). production and aircrew training. national wealth and declining relative global Post-1945, as the RAF entered the jet age the power” (p 6). Post-WW1 the legacy of Trenchard analysis (96pp) focuses more on the technological and Salmond ensured the RAF’s survival through capabilities of the RAF’s fleet – over 70 aircraft its cost-effective Imperial policing of British types are mentioned “... a host of new designs, some colonies and areas of administration, particularly excellent, and a few mediocre” (p 156) – and their in Mesopotamia//Persia, underlining how weapon systems, perhaps reflecting the specialisms long Britain has played a key role in this region (a of the two co-authors. Operations in Suez, Aden, fascinating interwar period for which the reader Malayan Insurgency, Kenyan Mau-Mau Emergency, should consult C Bowyer RAF Operations 1918- Falklands, the Gulf Wars, Kosovo, Afghanistan, 1938 [William Kimber. 1988]; V Flintham Truculent through to the Tornado air strikes against Tribes Turbulent Skies [Air-Britain. 2015] and B Syria in April 2018 among others are described, Renfrew Wings of Empire [The History Press. 2015] as the narrative flows back and forth – sometimes to learn more). confusingly – across the decades (supported by The central core of the book (77 pages) is informative maps which show the geographical occupied by a penetrating review of air operations strategic importance of , Singapore, Cyprus of WW2 – based partly on the statistical analysis and the Ascension Islands) as “the RAF’s fortunes undertaken by Operational Research – in which ebbed and flowed with the fortunes of the nation” both the failings (on a number of occasions the (p 180). Many of these operations took place in the RAF’s initial inability to hit a moving target at sea shadow of the Cold War, epitomised in the creation is recorded) and accomplishments are noted, of the nuclear V-Force bomber capability, RAF reflecting the authors’ perspective that “the Germany and the deployment of the Douglas Thor RAF’s role in the Second World War is pivotal to In conclusion IRBM. understanding the air force’s standing in society” The book ends with a balanced assessment (p 4). Particularly revealing is the chapter on the this compact of the impacts of the seemingly endless cycle of operations of Bomber Command and its raids on volume is political defence reviews (seven are separately Dresden, Cologne and Hamburg among others. not a book to recorded between 1990-2010), the ‘future “No other element of the RAF’s history has been so be skimmed proofing’ of the RAF symbolised in the anticipated controversial, so mired in deeply held myths, and so deployment in 2021 of the Protector long- fogged by ill-informed pontification” (p 94) – which through but endurance UAV and the launch in January 2018 of ultimately cost the lives of around 55,000 serving deserves to be the RAF Carbonite-2 reconnaissance satellite as personnel. In addition to personal sacrifice ultimately closely read for the militarisation of outer space evolves. The lack of Britain was not overrun through a co-ordinated the insightful resources against demands is apparent throughout, combination of organisation within the RAF and as aircraft types have to serve longer than originally the individual capabilities of its High Commanders commentary it planned for – for example the Chinook “... is likely (Dowding, Portal, Tedder, Harris, Joubert de la Ferté, contains to serve for seven decades, as there is no true

44 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 replacement on the horizon” (p 233) – a revealing statement recording: “Aircraft not in regular RAF operation earn extra revenue as passenger transport for package holidaymakers” (pp 233-234), surely a role that its founder Trenchard did not envisage for the RAF’s fleet. In conclusion this compact volume is not a book to be skimmed through but deserves to be closely read for the insightful commentary it contains on the challenges which the RAF has faced during its first century of existence.

Brian Riddle Affiliate

RAF Chinook helicopters from18 (B) Squadron practising desert operations during Exercise Vortex Warrior. Could the Chinook see 70 years’ service in the RAF? MoD/Crown copyright (2019).

THE MAN WHO BUILT THE SWORDFISH The Life of Sir Richard Fairey technology; with war in prospect, he obtained large orders for planes like the Fairey Swordfish and the By A Smith . The Swordfish, as a canvas-covered, open cockpit , was already obsolete by WW2 I B Tauris & Co Ltd, 6 Salem Road, London W2 but, because of its durability and outstanding crews, 4BU, UK. 2018. xxii; 455pp. Illustrated. £25. ISBN it gained many successes against enemy shipping 978-1-78831-336-0. until 1942 when a whole squadron was annihilated, while the Fairey Battle light bomber was always too Adrian Smith’s biography of Richard Fairey marks an slow and vulnerable to succeed. For all that, through important addition to accounts about the colourful a combination of shrewd company reconstructions, and enduring entrepreneurs from the early days successful investments and his assiduity “in cultivating of British aircraft construction. Fairey’s 40-year contacts at every level of Government and the Armed working relationship with the Royal richly merits Forces,” Fairey himself surmounted the economic comparison with other long-standing pioneers like Sir Richard Fairey, blizzards of the time to become an increasingly rich Tommy Sopwith, Geoffrey de Havilland, Frederick 1887-1956. RAeS (NAL). man. Handley Page (whose own biography is still to be Fairey spent the war in Washington heading the written) and the Short Brothers. Adrian Smith’s British Air Commission concerned with the supply of Smith rapidly introduces his readers to someone aircraft from America, for which he was awarded a of large stature (Fairey was over 6 feet 6 inches biography Knighthood. By now a sick man he returned to Fairey tall) with a strong early interest in aviation and a of Richard to help oversee its Delta 2 supersonic fighter and the determination never to be poor. We learn that Fairey Fairey marks Rotodyne, a large compound helicopter, whose costly acquired his theoretical knowledge of engineering development after his death, led Fairey Aviation to be the hard way through evening classes at Finsbury an important subsumed by Westland. As for the Delta 2, although Technical College – a flagship establishment for addition to capturing the World Speed record, it was never as vocational education – while working full-time. His accounts about easy to fly – nor such a good weapons platform as aviation career was launched when winning a national the colourful the English Electric Lightning – which resulted in its model aircraft competition held at Crystal Palace cancellation. following which he straightway sold his innovative and enduring While Smith’s wide ranging and acute biography design to Gamages, the famous London store. He entrepreneurs fully recognises Fairey’s ferocious right-wing bias, then, in 1911, commenced work with designer J W from the financial ruthlessness and sedulous courting of the Dunne developing his experimental aircraft before early days of powerful, he also has no doubt that – unlike others joining the Short Brothers at their aeroplane factory – he never fell for Fascist propaganda and never on the Isle of Sheppey. Within 30 months he had British aircraft ceased to believe that Britain would have to fight progressed to become Works Manager and Chief construction Germany again. Engineer. Even so, in spite of his undoubted achievements, In 1915 Fairey formed his own company the reader has the distinct impression that Fairey’s constructing aircraft for the , during the enterprises never reached the highest levels of 1920s and early 1930s producing cutting-edge Peter Reese Sopwith’s Hawker Company nor matched the seaplanes. However, not all were of advanced- AMRAeS repeated inventive triumphs of Geoffrey de Havilland.

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2019 45 Afterburner Book Reviews TAKING TO THE AIR An Illustrated History of Flight By L Ford

The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, UK. 2018. 224pp. Illustrated £25. ISBN 978- 0-7123-5261-1.

Britannia Must Rule the Air ... Issued under the auspices of the Aerial League of Great Britain ... This Song May be Sung in Public Without Fee or Licence’ (published c.1913 and a chorus to rally round in these uncertain troubled times) is just of the many delights to be found turning the pages of this visual celebration of how the spectacle of aviation has pervaded the artistic imagination and popular culture from prehistory magazine covers (which are beautifully reproduced through to the glamour of jet age and Dan Dare in this volume), films and air displays of the time as “ ... a Biggles-type figure who reiterated narratives of aircraft flew further, faster and higher. Endurance imperial expansion and defence in outer space just as flights – where the pilot and technological advances in the nation’s empire on Earth was falling away” (p 191). aircraft design were pushed to their limits – attracted The dream of flight – the conquest of the air – a wide range of pilots who became household names, haunted successive generations for centuries; the Lindbergh’s 1927 solo transatlantic flight identified as “... the decisive moment of the transfiguration of flight mythological tale of Icarus falling to his death after from a war-tainted technology to a technology of the the Sun melted the wax which held together his future” (p 141), the growing menace of air power first wing-like structure and the fatalities of early tower experienced in the Great War to be soon relived in jumpers symbolic of the dangers which aviation has WW2. experienced throughout its history. Top: Salon Aeronautique at Although the book is international in coverage, it Over the centuries various designs for flying the Grand Palais, Paris, in is noted “the story of flight told here is a British one” machines were recorded on paper, models were September 1909. Above: The front cover of (p 8), concluding with the observation that, by the made, but it was not until the late-18th century during Automobilia and Flight, April late 1960s, British companies “continued to make the Enlightenment pursuit of scientific knowledge that 1909, VI, (45). engines and components for aeroplanes, but without Man gained the ability to travel through the air – by Both RAeS (NAL). the generous investment of post-war research and balloon. The balloon was born in France in 1783, the development, could no longer make new aircraft” experiences of the pioneering aeronauts captured in (p 206). numerous prints, engravings, fashion accessories and Lily Ford’s astute supporting narrative contains published accounts that fuelled a ‘balloonmania’ to a subtext as she aims “... to make a start at bringing sweep the continent. women into the history of flight, which seems Man was to travel by balloon – and later by airship traditionally to have been told by men to men and – for more than 120 years before the first aeroplane boys”, rather overlooking the 100s of articles and left the ground and the era of powered flight began. growing library of books that have been published on Nevertheless, reproductions of such futuristic designs women and aviation over the years. as W S Henson’s Aerial Steam Carriage shaped A few lapses – mainly spellings – were noted; the heavier-than-air flying machine in the public The 1920s and the pioneering air shows at Doncaster and Blackpool imagination. were held in October 1909 (not 1911), Ernest Following the Wright brothers pivotal 1903 flight 1930s witnessed Montaut (not Monteaux) was the French artist who and the subsequent first powered flights in Europe, a ‘golden age’ of designed the Reims 1909 ‘La Grande Semaine seemingly overnight an extensive aircraft industry flying as major d’Aviation de la Champagne’ poster, D F McIntyre (not arose with a host of aircraft manufacturers, suppliers, advances in air Macintyre) flew over Mount Everest in 1933 and Bert specialist journals and the beginning of aeronautical (not Burt) Smallways witnessed ‘The War in the Air’ by trade exhibitions. Thereafter aviation spread rapidly travel and in the H G Wells. over the face of the globe and Man had truly joined design of aircraft Nevertheless, this informative text deserves to be the birds in the conquest of the air. brought aviation added to the bibliography of notable books on aviation The 1920s and 1930s witnessed a ‘golden age’ to the forefront history which concludes the volume. of flying as major advances in air travel and in the design of aircraft brought aviation to the forefront of of the public Brian Riddle the public imagination, reflected in the posters, book/ imagination Affiliate

46 AEROSPACE / DECEMBER 2019 ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF AIR POWER Edited by J A Olsen

Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, UK. 2018. xix; 405pp. £175. ISBN 978-1-138-63260-8. RAeS members can access an e-Book edition of this title online via the National Aerospace Library’s e-Book service www.aerosociety.com/ebooks

John Andreas Olsen’s objective of increasing our understanding of air power has been magnificently achieved in this single volume. He assembled some of the leading air power scholars around the world but also added scholars who understand the value of air power in a wider strategic context. Above: A Royal Australian integrating them into a NATO dominated alliance As John Olsen reminds us in his introduction, air Air Force Lockheed Martin structure. This was particularly the case with Arab power is not just about aircraft, weapon systems or C-130J Hercules provides transport to the South states but it also affected Sweden. Sanu Kainikara’s even attack. Air power is often at its most effective Australian fire fighting chapter, meanwhile, gives the reader an analytical when not delivering kinetic effect. However, one of the deployment against the recent overview of Indian air power since its inception, most important contributions made by this edited work bush fires.Commonwealth of showing how the Indian Air Force (IAF), in particular, is the light it sheds on leadership, training, education , Department of Defence. has developed into an instrument of power projection. and the factors which influence the conduct of air The chapter brings the reader’s attention to a little- operations, such as Rules of Engagement (ROE) and known conflict between Pakistan and India in 1999 the Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC). One of the best which caused a radical change in how India viewed its chapters is by Ben Lambeth in his discussion of air conventional deterrence. The so-called Kargil War of power in irregular warfare scenarios. He makes the 1999 is not widely known in the West, mainly because point that it is all too easy to claim that air power has it occurred at the same time as the Kosovo campaign. been less effective in counter-insurgency or irregular A major Pakistani infiltration across the Indo-Pakistani warfare compared with state-on-state conflict and border was reversed by the IAF and Pakistan has reminds readers that the modern COIN campaign been reluctant to engage in any major adventurism could do little without aerial surveillance or air mobility. since. India sees the IAF as a major deterrent to Coupled with a rigorous targeting process and China, short of a nuclear exchange. Meanwhile, Igor precision weapons, air power in such scenarios has Sutyagin’s chapter on Russian air power provides saved lives, not squandered them. both reassurance and disquiet for NATO. While the Several other authors, including Robert Owen Russian Air Force has lacked the type of investment it and Gjert Dyndal, also explore the non-kinetic roles may have wished for, it has resuscitated its long-range for air power. Owen’s work on air mobility is unique, bomber capability and it is clear that involvement in in that it investigates the importance of air mobility Syria has proved useful as a testing arena for the in any strategic context, but it also sheds light on latest tactics and weapons. Russia also remains the importance of air mobility for smaller nations, a world leader in ground-based air defence and such as New Zealand. One of the flaws of recent continues to supply several, potentially hostile, nations air power discourse is that it tends to focus on the with Russian systems. major powers, especially the US, UK and France, Owen’s work on This edited work has filled a sizeable gap in and the value of air power as a force multiplier for air mobility is the literature and is comprehensive in its coverage. smaller nations is rarely addressed. Gjert Dyndal also unique, in that Some chapters do not do full justice to their subjects underscores the cost-saving and force multiplying (such as the one devoted to Air-Sea Integration, effects of aerial surveillance and air-derived it investigates for example, which focuses on carrier operations intelligence. the importance and misses significant land-based maritime Among the other stand-out chapters are those of air mobility strike experience, both during WW2 and since). by Christian Anrig, Igor Sutyagin and Sanu Kainikara. in any strategic Nonetheless, John Olsen has performed a great These chapters provide unique insights into non- service to modern security studies by compiling this NATO air power in the 21st century. Christian context, but work. Anrig explores the positive and negative aspects of it also sheds operating in large coalition and alliance settings and light on the Dr Christina Goulter the issues which can arise over interoperability and importance of FRAeS intelligence sharing, in particular. In the Libyan air Co-Director Sir Michael Howard Centre for the campaign of 2011 several non-NATO partners were air mobility for History of War and Head, King’s College Air Power involved to good effect but there were difficulties smaller nations Studies Research Group

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