The outbreak of World War I found the British Army's Royal Flying Corps with just over 200 fragile, unarmed reconnaissance aircraft, and a uniformed strength of just over 2000 all ranks; the Royal Naval Air Service had some 50 seaplanes. By the Armistice of 1918 the unified Royal Air Force was the largest in the world, with about 22,650 aeroplanes - including a strategic bomber force - and 27,330 men operating from some 700 bases. This second in a two-part study covers RAF, WRAF and RAFNS uniforms from the unification of the service in April 1918; and the whole span of flying clothing during the Great War.

Author Biography

Andrew Cormack took his degree in Modern History from the University of London and then worked briefly for the Imperial War Museum in London. In 1979 he moved to the Royal Air Force Museum and now holds the position of Keeper of Visual Arts, Medals and Uniforms. In 1990 Osprey published his Men-At-Arms 225, a study of RAF uniforms and flying clothing of the Second World War. Apart from aviation he is a specialist in the British army of the 18th century and sits on the Council of the Society for Army Historical Research.