Sir Frederick H. Sykes and the Air Revolution: 1912-1918

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dc.contributor.advisorTravers, Timothy H. E.
dc.contributor.authorAsh, Eric A.
dc.date.accessioned2005-07-29T22:00:56Z
dc.date.available2005-07-29T22:00:56Z
dc.date.issued1995
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 472-482.en
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation is a study of Sir Frederick H. Sykes, first Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Air Force. It argues that historians have overlooked and misinterpreted Sykes and, therefore, have left a gap in the story of British flying during the First World War. Contrary to historiography, Sykes was not a secretive intriguer and not a tangential subject in RAF history. This dissertation describes Sykes's fundamental part in organizing and leading British aviation from 1912 to 1919--his visionary guidance and efficient administrative control of the fledgling service that was trying to survive infancy and contribute to victory. Sykes assumed command of the air staff at a critical time--the German spring offensives in 1918--when he worked harmoniously with the Air Minister, Lord William Weir, to maintain control of the air force and establish the strategic Independent Air Force. Sykes battled against fellow airmen, military traditionalists, and French commanders to lead an incipient air revolution in warfare by instituting "air minded" use of new technologies to economize manpower and apply air power tactically, strategically, and independently from inefficient army and navy competitive control. Aircraft have transformed the modern battlefield, and Sykes was important to that revolutionary beginning.
dc.format.extentix, 491 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier.citationAsh, E. A. (1995). Sir Frederick H. Sykes and the Air Revolution: 1912-1918 (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/21899en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/21899
dc.identifier.isbn0612041727en
dc.identifier.lccUG 635 G7 A85 1995en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/29570
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject.lccUG 635 G7 A85 1995en
dc.subject.lcshGreat Britain. Royal Air Force
dc.subject.lcshSykes, Frederick H.
dc.subject.lcshAir Power - Great Britain - History
dc.subject.lcshGreat Britain - Military Policy
dc.subject.lcshWorld War, 1914-1918 - Great Britain
dc.subject.lcshWorld War, 1914-1918 - Aerial operations, British
dc.titleSir Frederick H. Sykes and the Air Revolution: 1912-1918
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineHistory
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 960 520538270
ucalgary.thesis.notesoffsiteen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleaseyen
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