Territorial Air Force: The RAF's Voluntary Squadrons, 1926-1957

The Territorial Air Force (TAF) was a voluntary military organization in Britain from the early 1920s to 1957. It consisted of three parts: the Auxiliary Air Force, the Special Reserve, and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. This book will present the history of the TAF, including its formation, recruitment, and social composition. It will analyze how volunteers joined the organizations, the influences of class and social status on recruitment, and the key differences between the Auxiliary and SR squadrons. It will also discuss the newly formed University Air Squadrons, which were set up to promote air-mindedness and stimulate an interest in aeronautical matters. The TAF had to change in response to new pressures, such as the need for a more meritocratic culture in the post-war world, and the decline of class as a key determining factor in the recruitment of officers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2020
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Little has been written about the Territorial Air Force (TAF) as a voluntary military organization, and no sustained analysis of its recruitment and social composition has been undertaken to date. Comprising three distinct parts: the Auxiliary Air Force, the Special Reserve, and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, these three separate and different groups have not featured significantly in existing literature. Current historiography of the AAF and SR is dominated by the experiences of Nos. 600 and 601 Squadrons, which were based in London, and presents a popular image of a gentlemen's flying club. On the other hand, the RAFVR presents an image of a much more egalitarian institution, intended to be a citizens' air force. This book will present the history of the TAF from its creation in the early 1920s until 1957. It will consider the ideas behind the formation of two different types of reserve for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and examine the way in which men were recruited for the three different groups. Woven throughout the text will be an analysis of how the volunteers joined, and what kinds of men were accepted into the organizations as both pilots and officers. It will also analyze the influences of class and social status on recruitment in the run-up to the Second World War. The book will explore the key differences between the Auxiliary squadrons and the SR squadrons, as well as the main reasons for the idea of merging the SR squadrons into the AAF squadrons. It will briefly discuss the newly formed University Air Squadrons, which were set up to promote air-mindedness and stimulate an interest and research on matters aeronautical.

Military voluntarism continued to play a key role in the defense of twentieth-century Britain, but the underlying tensions and weaknesses associated with it remained. The TAF played a significant role in the defense of the country during the Second World War, but its role was often overshadowed by the larger Royal Air Force (RAF). However, the TAF was a vital component of the RAF's wartime effort, and its contributions were not overlooked. The book will explore the history of the TAF in greater detail, including its formation, training, and deployment during the war. It will also examine the experiences of the volunteers who served in the TAF, including their training, combat experiences, and post-war careers.

In conclusion, the TAF was a significant voluntary military organization that played a vital role in the defense of twentieth-century Britain. Its history has been overlooked in the past, but this book will present a comprehensive analysis of the TAF's formation, recruitment, and social composition. It will also explore the key differences between the Auxiliary squadrons and the SR squadrons, as well as the main reasons for the idea of merging the SR squadrons into the AAF squadrons. The book will also discuss the newly formed University Air Squadrons, which were set up to promote air-mindedness and stimulate an interest and research on matters aeronautical. By examining the TAF's history, we can better understand the role of military voluntarism in the defense of the country and the contributions of individuals who served in the TAF.

Weight: 714g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526751034