Prelude to War: The RAF 1936 - 1939 Martin Derry (Pen & Sword)

 

Images of War: Prelude to War The RAF 1936 -1939 by Martin Derry (Pen & Sword) £15.99 Paperback

One of the most interesting and fascinating periods in modern history is starts in the thirties with the rise of fascism, the Second World War and the beginning of the Cold War as Communism rises as a new threat to democracy. Alongside the political and warfare accounts lies a story of technological change and development. All this factors shape and influence the world we live in today even if times are changing and new threats arise.

I recently read an account of the use of the old Bi-plane during the conflict which illustrated the technological backwardness at a time of the development of the Jet engine, the cruise missile (V1) and rockets in the form of the V2.

Even the air to air missile made its appearance during this conflict and yet one of Britain's major naval/airborne victories in the Mediterranean had depended on slow lumbering canvas covered Swordfish aircraft.  

I remain fascinated by the aircraft that were available just before and at the outbreak of war and  how the worlds air forces morphed into modernism with the ME 262 and the Gloucester Meteor aircraft by the conflicts end. 

This book by Martin Derry covers the RAF's pre-war aircraft many of which were obsolete by the time they entered service. Yet many went on to serve in the war. During the Battle of Britain there were still 4 squadrons of Gloucester Gladiator biplanes and two the even earlier Gauntlets. Fortunately the RAF had developed modern fighter planes in the form of the well known and highly regarded Hurricanes and Spitfires that saved the day.

This volume is an album of rare and photographs from the thirties featuring the virtually unknown and forgotten types that served the cash strapped RAF up until rearmament gathered pace. Divided into four sections the majority of course being fighters and bombers.

 

Photo: By Tony Hisgett CC

As late as 1937 the Hawker Fury was still being delivered to the RAF, a fine aircraft at it's inception but woefully inadequate for modern warfare as faster and more heavily armed monoplanes arrived on the scene.

The Gauntlet a more modern biplane still relied on syncronised machine guns firing through it's propellers. The first aircraft to go beyond this basic armament and have more guns was the Gladiator.

British bombers were no better than the fighter force with slow lumbering under-protected types such as the Friary Hendon (a night bomber), Harrows (performed better as transport aircraft during the war and then the more modern types such as the Blenheim MK I which was faster than most British fighters when first flown.

The beginnings of more modern bombers came with the introduction of the Whitley and much more successful and familiar Wellingtons. Yet at the outbreak of war much reliance was made on the under-powered and vulnerable  Fairey Battle a single engines monoplane bomber that was simply shot down in huge numbers.

One must not forget the Empire where other older types served such as the odd looking Victor Wellesleys. 

Coastal command also gets a short chapter where the more familiar Sunderlands and Beauforts would eventually appear but this volume covers far too many types to be covered in one short review including the Avro Anson which I recall as an Airfix kit from my early teens.

Photo: CC Oren Rozen

This is a book that can be either read in one go or as I tend to do with these albums dip in and out when the interest arises. A fascinating tome that helps explain the conflicts military aspects as war begins.