RAF: The Official Story by James Holland

RAF: The Official Story by James Holland* is a very interesting book. It covers the whole history of the RAF, since before its birth in 1918. The Royal Air Force is the oldest air force in the world and it has a fascinating story. I had no idea how involved Churchill was in its conception and development.

In the book there are countless pictures of planes and pilots, political leaders, and other documents, creating a wholesome image of RAF. I like how many facts are included, such as how many hours pilots were trained before being sent on the front line. There are other subjects covered in the book, like the RADAR and how that differed from what the Germans were doing at the same time.

Looking at the dates is fascinating too, seeing how much Britain was investing in the early 1930s technology assuming that a new war will follow. It makes one think what would have happened if Europe had taken action swiftly, when Hitler and the Nazi started to create an army, against the Treaty of Versailles, instead of waiting for him to attack and invade two European countries. But, well, we can never know what would have happened, maybe it would have been worse.

I liked Holland’s style. Is clear and easy to follow. I would gladly read more books by him. Furthermore, as I already mentioned, there are many pictures which give a more intimate view of the people involved in the war effort and in the RAF. It’s also lovely to see the progress of photography, from the white & black shots of 1920s-1930s to the colour images from ten years ago. I highly recommend this book, because I’ve enjoyed it a lot.

RAF: The Official Story by James Holland

Details about the picture: –
My rating: 5/5 Stars
Would I recommend it: yes
Published by: Welbeck Publishing Group
Year it was published: 2020
Format: Hardcover
Genre(s): History
Pages: 224

About the author: James Holland was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and studied history at Durham University. He has worked for several London publishing houses and has also written for a number of national newspapers and magazines. Now he is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Research Fellow at Swansea University.
Books by him: The Battle of Britain: Five Months That Changed History, May-October 1940; Dam Busters: The True Story of the Legendary Raid on the Ruhr; Normandy ’44: D-Day and the Epic 77-Day Battle for France.
Historical fiction books: Sergeant Jack Tanner series; A Pair of Silver Wings; The Burning Blue.
Website & Social Media Links: welbeckpublishing

*I was sent a copy of RAF: The Official Story by James Holland for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.