The Development of British Tactical Air Power, 1940-1943 : A History of Army Co-operation Command

This book explores the development of tactical air power in Britain between 1940 and 1943 through a study of the Royal Air Force's Army Co-operation Command. It charts the work done by the Command during its existence, and highlights the arguments between the RAF and Army on this contentious issue in Britain. Much is known about the RAF both in the years preceding and during the Second World War, particularly the exploits of Fighter, Bomber and Coastal Commands, yet the existence of the RAF's Army Co-operation Command is little-known. Through extensive archival research, Matthew Powell maps the creation and work of the RAF's Army Co-operation Command through an analysis of tactical air power developments during the First World War and inter-war periods, highlighting the debates and arguments that took place between the Air Ministry and the War Office. Matthew Powell is an independent scholar who has taught at the University of Birmingham, UK. He has published on Army Co-operation Command in Canadian Military History, Air Power Review and theBritish Journal for Military History Introduction 8 Notes 16 Acknowledgments 20 Contents 22 Abbreviations 24 Chapter 1: Army Co-operation at Home and Abroad 26 Notes 57 chapter 2: Tactical Air Power and the Battle of France, 1940 68 Notes 97 chapter 3: The Creation of Army Co-operation Command 108 Notes 137 chapter 4: The Work of Army Co-operation Command, 1941 143 Notes 177 chapter 5: The Beginning of the End of Army Co-operation Command, 1942 185 Notes 215 chapter 6: The End of Army Co-operation Command, 1943 220 Notes 245 Conclusion 250 Notes 254 Appendix: Directive to AOC-in-C Army Co-operation Command 256 Bibliography 258 Primary Sources (Unpublished) 258 Cabinet Office Papers 259 Prime Minister’s Papers 259 War Office Papers 259 Private Papers 259 Department of Documents, Imperial War Museum, London 260 Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King’s College London 260 Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon 260 Official Manuals 260 Hansard (Parliamentary Debates) 260 Primary Sources (Published) 260 Secondary Sources (Published Works) 261 Autobiographical and Biographical Studies 262 Diaries, Memoirs, Journals and Accounts 262 General Works: Books 262 General Works: Chapters 268 Journal Articles 273 Unpublished Theses and Manuscripts 278 Television 278 Index 279 "This book explores the development of tactical air power in Britain between 1940 and 1943 through a study of the Royal Air Force Army Co-operation Command. It charts the work done by the Command during its existence, and highlights the arguments between the RAF and Army on this contentious issue in Britain. Much is known about the RAF both in the years preceding and during the Second World War, particularly the exploits of Fighter, Bomber and Coastal Commands, yet the existence of the RAF Army Co-operation Command is little-known. Through extensive archival research, Matthew Powell maps the creation and work of the RAF Army Co-operation Command through an analysis of tactical air power developments during the First World War and inter-war periods, highlighting the debates and arguments that took place between the Air Ministry and the War Office. Matthew Powell is an independent scholar who has taught at the University of Birmingham, UK. He has published on Army Co-operation Command in Canadian Military History, Air Power Review and theBritish Journal for Military History"--Back cover Annotation This book explores the development of tactical air power in Britain between 1940 and 1943 through a study of the Royal Air Force s Army Co-operation Command. It charts the work done by the Command during its existence, and highlights the arguments between the RAF and Army on this contentious issue in Britain. Much is known about the RAF both in the years preceding and during the Second World War, particularly the exploits of Fighter, Bomber and Coastal Commands, yet the existence of the RAF s Army Co-operation Command is little-known. Through extensive archival research, Matthew Powell maps the creation and work of the RAF s Army Co-operation Command through an analysis of tactical air power developments during the First World War and inter-war periods, highlighting the debates and arguments that took place between the Air Ministry and the War Office." Front Matter....Pages i-xxiv Army Co-operation at Home and Abroad....Pages 1-42 Tactical Air Power and the Battle of France, 1940....Pages 43-82 The Creation of Army Co-operation Command....Pages 83-117 The Work of Army Co-operation Command , 1941....Pages 119-160 The Beginning of the End of Army Co-operation Command, 1942....Pages 161-195 The End of Army Co-operation Command , 1943....Pages 197-226 Back Matter....Pages 227-261