From Flying Dreadnought to Dogfighter - The Troubled Birth of the British Fighter

This month Greg Baughen will be joining us to debunk some of the many myths surrounding British fighter development around the First World War. This is part talk, part detective story, as he explains how the importance of air superiority was understood long before the Great War began, explores how naval influence delayed the development of dogfighters like the Sopwith Camel and RAF SE5a and tracks down the mysterious Fighting Experimental dreadnoughts that the Royal Flying Corps wanted to use instead (themes further explored in his book, 'Blueprint for Victory').

Greg has been researching the history of British and French air forces for over forty years, with a focus on how air power evolved in both countries and has published widely on the subject, with titles including 'The Rise of the Bomber' (1918-1938), 'The RAF in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain' (1938-1940), 'RAF on the Offensive' (1940-1941), 'RAF at the Crossroads' (1942-1943), 'The RAF's Road to D-Day' (1943-1944), and most recently, 'The RAF Enters the Atomic Age'.

Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome. Any new visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts.

Main Image: Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.4 (c1916).