Watson - The Royal Air Force At Home: The History of RAF Air Displays from 1920

In writing this book Ive set out to present a historical view of the Royal Air Force from a different angle than that which is more usual. Not that the subject of the RAFs commitment and policy to air shows and public displays generally has not been touched upon before, but when so, it has usually been an occasional reference, indeed, an acknowledgement along the way.

This time I trust Ive struck a cord with those who enjoy what has come to be described as the UKs second-largest spectator sport. To those who can remember perhaps attending one of the once many RAF stations, for many now quite some years ago, perhaps on the occasion of the annual Battle of Britain displays which figure so prominently in this book, then you may find some sense of nostalgia herein.

As I write this passage to thank those who have contributed so much, whether photographs, specific details or transcriptions from Air Council meetings minutes, a sense that an end of an era is upon us has never been more keenly felt than now; as descendants of the few become fewer, so does the contribution to the annual list of air shows which in themselves now are predominantly civilian-organised, a reverse state of affairs from the early post-war years.

Before I digress any further then, Ill get to the point and say thank you to the following: John Wharam, John Fisher, Peter March, Alex Christie, Steve Williams, Robin Williams, Mick Jennings and Keith Butcher, all of whom provided a generous selection from which many of the pictures were drawn and are individually acknowledged. Other photographs from more formal sources have been provided by The Air Historical Branch; in particular Im indebted to Squadron Leader Peter Singleton and Bill Hunt, who were particularly helpful in researching photographs. Other sources who have contributed are Warwickshire County Records Office, who provided some rare shots taken at Gaydon in the sixties and Im especially grateful to the Royal Netherlands Air Force Historical Branch for their contribution. The National Archives have also proved an indispensable source not only for photographs but also for allowing transcriptions of Air Council minutes concerning early policy regarding the staging of service-organised air shows, for which I would like to say thank you in particular to Tim Padstow and Paul Johnson of the National Archives crown copyright department. The detailed participation lists and timetables of previous Battle of Britain At Home Days, which make up the extensive appendices, appear also in no small part thanks to the National Archive, John Halley of Air Britain Historians, Midland Counties Publications, Merv Hambling of the Norfolk Aviation Society and the Royal Air Force Museum archive office at Hendon, all of whom have also proved most helpful here. Furthermore, I must thank the publishers of Aeroplane Monthly and Aviation News for their kind assistance with the reviews and quotes from 1920-21 editions of The Aeroplane and September 1963 edition of Air Pictorial ,which helped research regarding the Hendon Air Pageants and organisation of the Battle of Britain Displays. Furthermore, thanks to Group Captain Nicky Loveday and Squadron Leader Roger Steele, who have given crucial advice regarding the training of display crews. Finally, Im honoured to have received the assistance of Tim Prince, Director of RIAT and Air Vice Marshal Peter Latham, who as Leader of the Black Arrows set the standards of formation aerobatics which we see today in The Red Arrows and other premier military display teams.

There are others, Im sure, that I have forgotten to mention. I can only apologise to those who contributed in some way but are not listed here. However, their efforts are deeply appreciated just the same.