The History Of Early British Military Aeronautics

Reprinted from the Royal Engineers Journal

March-June-Septembre 1952

PREFACE

Not long before the 1939-45 War the author was invited by the Institution of Royal Engineers to write, for publication in the R.E. Journal, an historical account of the air activities of the Corps when it was responsible for military aeronautics, prior to the formation of the Royal Flying Corps in 1912. A good deal of preparatory work had been undertaken when the task had to be relinquished owing to the full-time employment of the author during the war, and subsequent circumstances further delayed its completion.

In the compilation of the account valuable help has been received from many sources. These include Major-General Sir John Capper, Colonel Sir Charles Arden-Close, Colonel H. B. Jones, Brigadier- General R. B. D. Blakeney, Colonel A. H. Bell, Colonel A. D. Carden and Major H. R. P. Reynolds, who were in their time employed in the R.E. air branch. Acknowledgements are also especially due to Mr. C. F. Caunter for assistance freely given, and to Mr. G. A. Broomfield for information in regard to Mr. S. F. Cody's early flying efforts.

The author apologizes for the frequent appearance of his name, in the course of the narrative, amongst those of others of much greater achievement.