The RAF was formed in 1918 from the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps. The importance of the new independent third service grew rapidly, as aircraft became more sophisticated and the part they played in modern warfare became ever more central. The strength of the Air Force reached its height in the Second World War, but remained strong during the Cold War. Today the RAF is much reduced in size but remains of pivotal importance to the defense of Great Britain and the work of the peace-keeping and humanitarian efforts of which Britain is a part. This book focuses on aircraft and weapons, operational bases and operational units of the RAF. Every base, unit, missile and bomb receives an entry giving information that is difficult to track down elsewhere.
Midwest Book Review, March 2006
"Illustrated throughout with over 300 black-and-white and color photographs, The Modern RAF is an in-depth reference packed with detail about the modern-day Royal Air Force of Great Britain. Though much reduced in size, it remains a vital peace-keeping and humanitarian tool. The Modern RAF is a highly technical guide, divided into four main sections: Aircraft, RAF Locations, Units, and RAF Equipment and Weapons. Each section lists individual planes, places, formations, and devices in extreme detail, combining specifications with a brief history of the aspect under discussion and its modern-day applications. A superb coffee table book, enjoyable for lay readers to browse and extremely useful as a comprehensive resource for professionals."
