BBC Radio 4 11.00am Bank Holiday Monday

[jeepman]

Don't often see heads ups for radio programmes on here. However "100 years of the Royal Flying Corps" airs on Radio 4 on Bank Holiday Monday at 11.00am

To quote the BBC website:

"After receiving its Warrant from King George V, the Royal Flying Corps came into being in May 1912. Peter and Dan Snow look at the centenary of this corps of the British Army and how it advanced from primitive balloons and flimsy biplanes to sophisticated long range bombers.

Dan looks back on the experience of flying in a World War One trainer and Peter explores the aircraft of the Shuttleworth Collection, all working examples of trainers, fighters and bombers. Professor Richard Overy and General Sir Mike Jackson explain how the RFC's pioneering work altered the course of warfare, and documents from the Museum of Army Flying chart the tragic loss of life that went hand in glove with extreme bravery and remarkable technical development. In a few short years the RFC went from being perceived as a fad to a major component of 20th century warfare, and eye witness accounts tell of artillery spotting, photo reconnaissance and the carnage on the Somme.

More importantly, rather than focusing on the RFC as a curtain-raiser to the creation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, the programme looks at the Corps in its own right and what it brought in terms of intelligence, sophisticated mapping and air supremacy to the British Army in the field."

[low'n'slow]

Superb. I'll be listening!!

[Moggy C]

Thanks for the heads-up.

Had it been decent weather I'd probably have missed it. As it was I was able to listen.

Simplistic, nothing in-depth (The history of the RFC in 30 minutes? What could I have been expecting), but well produced and still an excellent listen.

Moggy

[Airspeed Horsa]

I listened to it on the 1924 Bassett Lowke "Danelowe" set. Having got the thing going it was nice to have something worthwhile to listen to. The set was almost as old as the events discussed, which made me laugh.

Thanks for the heads-up, else I would have missed it.

Rob (the easily amused...?)

[AirportsEd]

Thanks for the tip-off.
I enjoyed it - and those that missed it can catch it on BBC i-player.
Ed

[TwinOtter23]

Here's the link to the BBC website article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17954439