This is the first full-length history of RAF Transport Command, which was formed in the middle of the Second World War and immediately became an international organization, with headquarters in the UK and subordinate formations in Canada, Africa and the Far East. This history recounts the various activities and achievements of Transport Command over its 24 years' existence.
The timely delivery of aircraft was crucial in the Second World War. This is a full account of the pioneering efforts of the Ferry Command, whose efforts spawned international air travel as we now know it.
In August 1945 RAF Transport Command found itself with almost 2000 C-47 Dakotas acquired under Lend-Lease that had to be returned, destroyed or paid for. This left the RAF with converted bombers such as the York and Halifax C.VIII or, in the Far East, interned Japanese aircraft including the Ki.48 Lily, Post war, Britain's aircraft industry embarked on equipping RAF with the full range of transport aircraft which could carry troops and cargo to the Far East and Australia. On Atlas' Shouldersdescribes how the lessons of WWII were absorbed and design studies and aircraft projects including the Beverley, Vickers' V.1000 and Type 799, the Argosy and HS.681 V/STOL transport or the Britannia, HP.111, VC10 and Belfast. On Atlas' Shouldersalso explains how the RAF developed their transport force from the late Sixties to today's precision delivery of equipment to forward operating bases in Afghanistan and beyond. The Mounting Base strategy followed with proposals for long-range transports such as the HP.135, Jet Belfast and VC10 developments whilst at the opposite end of the scale, liaison and observation aircraft such as the Pioneer were soon overtaken by the helicopter, culminating in the Wessex, Puma and Chinook. Illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings and specially commissioned artwork, On Atlas' Shouldersis a unique reference to the aircraft and technologies developed for logistics support of the British armed forces since 1945.
Beretter om flyveruter over Atlanterhavet, som blev benyttet til at flyve militære fly (Ferry flights) og forsyninger fra USA og Canada til Europa under 2. verdenskrig
Between the fall of 1940 and the spring of 1945, the Canadian Royal Air Force Ferry Command's mixed civilian and military crews flew some ten thousand aircraft to operational squadrons overseas. Christie (Directorate of History, National Defense Headquarters, Ottawa) provides an account of the genesis, history, and importance of Ferry Command. Includes bandw photos. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR