Ian Philpott presents us here with a compendium of facts, operational histories and photo illustrations, combined to create a comprehensive account of the early years of the Royal Air Force. Illustrated throughout, it features details of all military operations from 1914 to 1918 which impacted upon the organisation. Also included are operational details of the Independent Bomber Force throughout 1918, a supplementary historical strand that is sure to appeal to Aviation enthusiasts with a taste for features of niche focus. Details of the airfields, landing grounds, seaplane bases and various other landmarks of this era are given, and readers are encouraged to use the work as a reference book, being as it is a weighty tome of encyclopaedic scope. Sure to make a welcome addition to any Aviation enthusiasts library, this well-researched piece of work has been a long time in the making. Philpott brings his typical flare to the project, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to this dynamic, defining period of Royal Air Force history. SELLING POINTS: . Extensively illustrated history of the early years of the Royal Air Force, from balloons and airships to Great War operations . Charts the development course of the organization, augmented by the events leading up to, during and beyond the First World War . Also includes detailed histories of the formation of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service