Dawn Patrol - Air Combat Over the Western Front 1914-18

Region:

Anywhere

Notice Period:

Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)

Type:

Enthusiast

Fee:

Paid: See speaker profile for details

Category:

History

Updated:

17^th March 2022

Tagged:

Military History | Aviation | Educational | History

Where there is no precedent, pioneers are forced to make up the game as they go along. The early history of aerial warfare was a classic example of this process, at once comical, frustrating and tragic. The Great War was the first conflict in which aviation played a major role, and at first no-one was quite sure how to go about it. This talk describes the many perils of military aviation in the early days, and discusses some of the larger-than-life characters and inspired inventions that within a few short years, were to transform air combat from an eccentric charade into a deadly serious contest.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by military history and technology, and like any enthusiast, I’ve always wanted to share my passion with the people around me. Following a career in the IT industry, I now have the opportunity to pass on some of the amazing facts and stories I’ve come upon over the years. As you will discover when you book one of my talks, military history is definitely NOT just for military history fans!

My talks are designed to appeal to men and women from every walk of life. A little technical jargon is sometimes unavoidable, but don’t worry, I always translate this into everyday language! I am always keen to take questions afterwards.

All my talks last a little over an hour. If you are interested in a particular talk, but require more information, or would like to discuss other options to suit your requirements, then please do contact me.

All the talks are illustrated with PowerPoint slides. I have my own projector and screen, but I’ll happily use your equipment if it’s already in place. If a face-to-face meeting is impossible or impractical, I can deliver all my talks to you online, using Zoom or any other preferred platform.

FEES: For club talks, my usual fee is £50. For a round trip of up to 50 miles, there is no charge for travel. For distances over 50 miles, I will charge travel expenses at 45p a mile. If you are a very small club, or this charge is more than you can afford, then please do contact me: I would rather meet you somewhere in the middle, than not give the talk at all! For public appearances, my rates are negotiable.

Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Tim Barney

• Lock, Stock & Barrel - A Brief History of Military Small Arms
• The God of War - A Brief History of Artillery
• Destroyer of Worlds - Lifting The Lid on Nuclear Weapons
• Mad, Bad & Dangerous - Military Ideas & Inventions That Didn’t Make the Grade
• Warrior Nation - Memorable British Battles of the Last Millennium
• BREAKTHROUGH..! - How 100 Bright Ideas Changed the Face of Warfare
• Interceptor - The Development of Fighter Aircraft During World War Two
• Most Secret - Defford Airfield and the Story of Airborne Radar