The Royal Air Force was just eight months old when the First World War ended. It then had to fight for survival against huge pressure from the Admiralty and War Office. The number of squadrons was swiftly reduced to a handful, but salvation came with the application of air control in India and mandated Iraq. In addition, Chief of the Air Staff Lord Trenchard laid strong foundations with the establishment of the Cadet College, Staff College and apprentice scheme, institutions not easily dismantled. Throughout the first decade of its existence, the RAF, which then also controlled the Fleet Air Arm, performed operations in Somalia, Germany, Iraq, Palestine, Ireland, Russia, India, Turkey and China, while bringing into service new types of aircraft, albeit in small numbers. In the Middle East and Africa, it conducted and supported trailblazing flights, continually pushing the boundaries of what was achievable. Royal Air Force Operations 1919 to 1920: How the RAF Secured Its Independence is the comprehensive story of the RAF in the 1920s, covering the service's development at both home and abroad, including all its operations across the globe. Controversies, such as the RAF's alleged use of chemical weapons in Iraq, are examined in detail, and some 350 photographs, many previously unpublished, bring the story to life like never before. AUTHOR: Vic Flintham was born in London at the height of the blitz and educated at Kilburn Grammar School. He is the author of six acclaimed books on military aviation, and co-author of two more. He has also written numerous articles for aviation magazines. He learned to fly at 60, and flying his own aircraft around Europe has given him insights into the challenges confronted by pilots and navigators. He is a liveryman of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots and a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He has travelled widely and loves to indulge his passion for photography. He lives in Dorset with his wife Christine, an accomplished botanical artist. 346 b/w illustrations