In this account of the origins and development of the RAF, the author offers evidence of its organization, strategy and preparedness for the Battle of Britain. Drawing on the facts and figures of the official Air Force Lists, he sets out to dispel many of the myths surrounding the history of the RAF in the pre-war years. In 1940 the Battle of Britain became the first battle between two air forces unaided by military or naval action. The beginnings of British air power, and the events which led up to those crucial weeks, are covered here in detail.