In August 1945 RAF Transport Command found itself with almost 2000 C-47
Dakotas acquired under Lend-Lease that had to be returned, destroyed or
paid for. This left the RAF with converted bombers such as the York and
Halifax C.VIII or, in the Far East, interned Japanese aircraft including
the Ki.48 Lily, Post war, Britain's aircraft industry embarked on
equipping RAF with the full range of transport aircraft which could
carry troops and cargo to the Far East and Australia.
On Atlas' Shoulders describes how the lessons of WWII were absorbed
and design studies and aircraft projects including the Beverley,
Vickers' V.1000 and Type 799, the Argosy and HS.681 V/STOL transport or
the Britannia, HP.111, VC10 and Belfast. On Atlas' Shoulders also
explains how the RAF developed their transport force from the late
Sixties to today's precision delivery of equipment to forward operating
bases in Afghanistan and beyond.
The Mounting Base strategy followed with proposals for long-range
transports such as the HP.135, Jet Belfast and VC10 developments whilst
at the opposite end of the scale, liaison and observation aircraft such
as the Pioneer were soon overtaken by the helicopter, culminating in the
Wessex, Puma and Chinook.
Illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings and specially
commissioned artwork, On Atlas' Shoulders is a unique reference to the
aircraft and technologies developed for logistics support of the British
armed forces since 1945.
