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History Strategy

The Coming of the Aerial War

Culture and the Fear of Airborne Attack in Inter-War Britain

by (author) Michele Haapamaki

Publisher
I.B. Tauris
Initial publish date
Jan 2014
Category
Strategy
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781780764184
    Publish Date
    Jan 2014
    List Price
    $104

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Description

In the first half of the 20th century the possibility of flight opened up entirely new avenues of thought and exploration. In the age of H.G. Wells and Biggles, the opening up of the air to balloons and planes - the Royal Flying Corps was founded in 1912 - appealed to concepts of courage and bravery which would be both encouraged and undermined by the experiences of World War I. The sky also held new terrors for everyday people who were now within reach of an airborne enemy - these fears included the possibilities of bombing, poison gas, surveillance and social control. This duality of fear and enthusiasm drove the Air Raid Precaution movement, while vocal elements in the press and in parliament called for radical plans to cope with apocalyptic scenarios. Here, Michele Haapamäki charts the history of flight and of war in the air in the early 20th century, addressing the key issues of interwar historiography such as patriotism, fear, masculinity and propaganda.

About the author

Contributor Notes

Michele Haapamäki holds a PhD in History from McMaster University, Toronto, Canada.