Date

6-26-2025

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)

Chair

David M. Valladares

Keywords

World War II, World War II Technology, World War II Aviation, World War II Royal Air Force, RAF, Royal Air Force, World War II strategy, World War II Tactics, interwar period, interwar technology, World War I, World War I Aviation, Flying Air Corp, Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster, Mosquito, Hawker Hart, Tiger Moth, Dam Buster

Disciplines

History

Abstract

The changes in aviation technology, strategy, and tactics in the Royal Air Force (RAF) formed at the end of World War I and throughout the Second World War would later sculpt the future of the modern era. This dissertation aims to explore the changes the RAF made which would ultimately help the Allied Forces win the Second World War and fill in the gaps of history that has seemed to have forgotten. The research shows that with the advancement of radar systems in the interwar period and the focus on fighter plane production the RAF became an outstanding fighting force. In the beginning General Douglas Haig of the First World War, although he preferred the Calvary, indeed found the use of Aeroplanes and tanks in the service of the war. During the interwar period more aircraft and other technologies like radar and the Black Box were developed while new strategies and tactics were explored. The strategies during the interwar period changed Great Britain’s production tactics from bombers to fighter planes which would help grant victory during the Battle of Britain. Finally new strategies like strategic bombing and dam busting were developed to break the German moral as well as the enemies production and war efforts. The combination and use of new technology and changing the strategies and tactics of how the RAF would fight helped contribute to the Allied Victory of the Second World War and shape the future.

Download

Included in

History Commons

Share

COinS