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Updated in [July 27th, 2023]
The University of Birmingham's Centre for War Studies offers a free online course on World War 1: Aviation Comes of Age. This course investigates how the early days of aviation captivated the public, spurred industry and inspired far-sighted members of the military. It examines the rapid evolution of aviation during WW1, from basic aircraft to modern and more effective machines, and how British factories developed to supply the Western Front with aircraft and ammunition. It also looks at how the aeroplane became commercially viable, with passenger and mail routes starting to appear, and how the government attempted to regulate the aviation industry.
The course is taught by Dr Peter Gray, a former commander of 101 Squadron and Director of Defence Studies for the RAF, who now teaches Birmingham’s MA in Air Power. It is produced in collaboration with the BBC and filmed at the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon, featuring first-hand interviews and archive material.
This course is part of a series designed in partnership with the BBC to commemorate the war, and is complemented by other courses such as World War 1: Paris 1919 - A New World Order? (University of Glasgow), World War 1: Changing Faces of Heroism (University of Leeds) and World War 1: Trauma and Memory (The Open University). World War 1: A History in 100 Stories (Monash University) is also available.
