Chapter 19 - Development of Air Power and the History of the RAF Flashcards
Define air power
“The ability to project power form the air and space to influence the behaviour of people or the course of events”
Name the 4 purposes of air power
1) to win control of the air
2) to assist in peacekeeping, disaster relief and humanitarian aid operations
3) to conduct air strikes for strategic or coercive effect - attack an opponents resources and war-making capacity
4) the enhance the capabilities of surface combat power
Name the 5 characteristics of air power
Speed
Height - ability to observe and control both the enemy and friendly on the ground and under sea
Reach - not hindered by mountains/sea, extended by AAR
Ubiquity - means literally everywhere, can threaten and retaliate in many different places at the same time
Pervasive - can be employed in almost any facet of warfare either to enhance land/sea power or in its own right
Air power offers the inherent advantage to project ___ ___ to any part of the globe and to concentrate that force in ___ and ___, wherever and whenever necessary.
At short notice, aircraft can be switched from mission ___ or ___, from one area to another, to operate locally or at ___ ___.
Force rapidly, time and space
Type or role, long range
The government has reviewed all three services and the resources they provide to theatres of operation - the ___ ___ review.
What did they agree would achieve a more cost-effective deployment?
Strategic defence review
Joint force deployment
The RAF is now an ____ force that is likely to be deployed anywhere in the world now we aren’t at war.
Expeditionary
In ____ the first army balloon school was established and 4 years later there followed a factory and training school.
When was the first powered flight? And by who?
1888
1903 Wright Brothers
When was the royal flying core established? It had separate military and naval wings.
During the early part of WW1 what was the royal flying core used for?
German aircraft had a similar task, naturally soldiers shot at them and they had no means to retaliate. What did the Germans do?
April 1912
Reconnaissance of enemy troop movements using unarmed aircraft.
Fitted them with machine guns.
What was the smuts review?
As a results of this review what was formed and on what date?
A review of the air defence of Britain following the Germans bombing London using air platforms.
The Royal Air Force, 1st April 1918
Who is the father of the Royal Air Force?
What were his 4 operational commands?
Air Marshal Trenchard (Lord)
1) the formation of a small, highly efficient Air Force capable of rapid expansion
2) the formation of training establishments
3) the formation of a research establishment
4) establishment of a staff college for officers
During the 1930’s the RAF set new records for which three things?
In WWII what 4 commands were set up?
1) altitude
2) long distance
3) speed
1. Fighter command 2. Bomber command 3. Coastal command 4. Training command
What was fighter commands role?
What was bomber commands role?
What does RADAR stand for?
When was the RAF regiment formed?
The defence of Britain
Strategic bombing
Radio detection and ranging
1942
What is air superiority?
This is the most important concept that evolved during WW2.
When was the women’s Royal Air Force formed?
The condition in which an enemy is unable to interfere effectively from the air with our land, sea and air operations.
1949
When was the Cold War?
What was the first RAF jet fighter? When did it enter service?
Which forces occupied the falklands and South Georgia? When?
What was the operations name that covered the Falklands conflict?
1948-1989
Gloster meteor, 1944
Argentinian Forces, 1982
Operation Corporate
In 1990 the ___ war started with the invasion of Kuwait by ___ ___.
What was the operation called?
Gulf
Iraqi Forces
Operation granby
