Title:
To Rule the Winds: The Evolution of the British Fighter Force Vol 1 - Prelude
to War - The Years to 1914
Author:
Michael C Fox
Publisher:
Helion
ISBN:
978-1-909384-14-9
Hardcover
Pages:
314
Photos:
87
Tables:
14
The
early years of military aviation in Britain is not one of dynamic leadership or
decision. Indeed, the British Government was well behind their counterparts on
the mainland regarding recognition of military aviation capability/potential,
assistance to the fledgling civilian industry and civil/military cooperation in
the field of aviation. The author has endeavoured to trace the development of
the British Fighter Force and the challenges that it faced both technologically
and politically as it transformed from nascent straggler into a world leader of
aviation technology. His first volume focusses on the period leading up to the
First World War when aviation was at its birth. Indeed, even the concept of
lighter than air 'craft' was being identified with two distinct tracks being
followed: the airship and the airplane.
What is
fascinating about this period (and expressed very well by the author) is the
struggle amongst government, civilian and military leaders as to what was
required in terms of capability, who would control it, what developmental track
should be followed (airship or airplane), how much money should be invested and
should development be exclusively within the military or should civilian
industry be both engaged and nurtured. These questions as much as the development
of the capability itself dominated the discussion of this new element. Fox
traces the challenges and arguments amongst the key players and emphasizes the recognition
of the necessity for not only risk acceptance but also vision amongst the
pioneers. It is difficult to appreciate from a modern perspective the degree of
risk assumed should the leaders/developpers guess wrong as to where to put
limited money and resources.
Intertwined
in the development of the physical aircraft itself was the challenge of
doctrine or what the aircraft was anticipated to do. Fox discusses at length
the debates regarding what the military saw as the potential use of aircraft in
an operational setting. Focus centred upon reconnaissance which served as a
logical and obvious start point but which quickly led to a variety of follow-on
challenges; such as kinds of armaments that would be needed to ensure that the
aircraft could undertake its mission unmolested. Communication with the ground
was also understood to be a critical capability if reconnaissance was to be
seen as worthwhile. Information had to be passed quickly or it rapidly became
of limited value. How that was to be achieved became another line of
discussion. Additionally, the nature of the aircraft design in terms of
stability was of ongoing debate. An effective combat aircraft required
significant instability to promote maneuverability yet that required skilled
pilots and did not promote a good reconnaissance platform. Fox's evaluation of
these issues is both insightful and clear.
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