WW1 Aviation Dissertation

Between the wars

John Terraine: The Right of the Line
For more colour, try Leslie Hunt’s Twenty-one Squadrons: History of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force 1925-1957

WW! Aviation Dissertation

Any dissertation such as the one you have in mind must take into account T E Lawrence’s ‘The Mint”. This is a book he wrote under the pseudonym of 352087 A/C Ross – the identity he adopted when trying to escape the popular adulation he earned from his WW1 exploits in the Arab world.

‘The Mint’ comprises his daily – or nightly – notes made whilst he was at the RAF Recruit Depot at Uxbridge, with some later chapters devoted to his service at RAF Cranwell as a photographic tradesman.

It is tough reading (they were tough days!) but if you’re really looking at the ‘Reality of Life’ in the fledgling RAF from ground level then your dissertation cannot afford to overlook this work.

My copy – bought in 1951 – was published by Jonathan Cape and preceded ISBN numbers. Try and read it though, it really conveys the flavour of an airman’s lot in the early 20s.

Its full title is ‘The Mint. A daybook of the RAF Depot between August and December 1922 with later notes by 352087 A/c Ross’

Good Luck!!

Tkyle…I’m sure you have already checked this book out, but if you haven’t, here’s a link to an excellent book:

http://www.hikokiwarplanes.com/rnas.htm

Ashley, Duxford correspondent

Try ‘The Paladins – the story of the RAF up to the outbreak of WW2’ by John James

it covers the ‘social history ‘ of the RFC/RAF

Thanks

Thanks for those leads everyone. I’m off to IWM Duxford on Wednesday to have a look at their collections and then it’s off to the Imperial War Museum and Public Record Office to slog through far too many documents! Be warned, the piece should be finished by early May and I may take Seafuryfan up that suggestion of posting it!

Cheers,

Tom

For between the wars, I’d also recommend ‘Reach For The Sky’, it covers Douglas Bader’s first period of service, and may be of use if you’re looking as far forward as the 1929-31 timeframe.

A couple of interesting WW1 aviation websites.
http://www.overthefront.com/
and
http://www.theaerodrome.com/index.html
mmitch

… and another thing

Captain W E John’s ‘Biggles’ novels were typical of how the 1914 – 18 air war was represented during the period between the wars.

But I expect you knew that?

Moggy

Just as atmosphere

When taking a break from the serious part of your work you might like to read Derek Robinson’s three WW1 RFC novels

War Story
Goshawk Squadron
&
er… The other one whose name escapes me.

Pure fiction, but a mixture of fun and truth too.

And don’t forget to visit a display day at the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden where you will see a few of the aircraft of the period actually flying.

Moggy

WWI Aviation Gurus

Hi Tkyle (did I spell that right? 🙂 )

It’s not my cup of tea, but try this link if you have not found it yet – this organisation have been going for years and is highly regarded.

Good luck with your disertation – and if you want to post it here when you’re done I’m sure some Forum Browsers would be interested.

http://www.crossandcockade.com/main.htm