AviationKenneth WebbHistory of the Royal Air Force, Michael Sharpe, Book ReviewComment

REVIEW The History of the Royal Air Force by Michael Sharpe (1999)

AviationKenneth WebbHistory of the Royal Air Force, Michael Sharpe, Book ReviewComment
REVIEW The History of the Royal Air Force by Michael Sharpe (1999)

AVIATION BOOK REVIEW

The History of the Royal Air Force

by

Michael Sharpe

September 2025

Published by Paragon Queen Street House 4 Queen Street Bath UK in 1999 and reprinted 2001, this compact work by Michael Sharpe provides the reader with a brief overview of the history of the Royal Air Force. Space is limited, so some subjects are surprisingly brief, whilst others are conspicuous by absence, for example the Halifax and Whitley heavy and medium bombers.

The index is a good indicator of the precis style.I find it invaluable for quick reference. Many books go into incredible detail, for example OBOE runs into hundreds of pages, whereas here it is a couple of paragraphs. That is good.

The index is not comprehensive. Subjects and objects dealt with by the author are not always indexed. Again, that is fine.

Even browsing, I found several important photographs I've never seen.

So this book has a very useful role. I also like the author's writing style.

If I was asked to recommend a title to enable the student to obtain a fast overview of the RAF between 1918-1999/2001 I recommend this Title. From there the student can build.

The quality of Michael Sharpe’s work is perfectly demonstrated a series of yellow panels. On page 7 the yellow panel provides a precise and very insightful definition of BE ~ a term that until now has sometimes been misleading in other works.. In all the biographies by RFC personnel, I've never seen this explained so sunncinctly.

Thus, I have a perfect mini aviation project ~ to produce the yellow panels throughout the book in the author’s chronological sequence. In so doing, I know that I will learn much because they are a spot on, as well as being a precise and target marked overview.

A quarter of a century later, and it is very important that former titles nevertheless be kept alive. In 2025, the young generation cannot grasp what happened in the 1930s and then between 1939-1947.

The rules based order that millions died for, is now of no consequence. I dislike lectures from teeny bops that Churchill, if anything, was worse than Hitler and Stalin. They cannot grasp that they are alive only because the prime minister at that time refused to give in. Today’s teeny-bops are made up of two camps. What can this country do for me and for free? The others? Appease. Apease. Give in.

Such is the power of social media and a media that stokes the fires.



31 August 2025

All Rights Reserved


LIVERPOOL


© 2025 Kenneth Thomas Webb



 


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