3. The Father of the Royal Air Force: Hugh Trenchard

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, the 1st Viscount Trenchard, served as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) for a hundred days in 1918, and was later reappointed to this position in 1919. Trenchard was to then serve as CAS for over ten years during which time he was instrumental in maintaining the survival of the Royal Air Force against staunch opposition to the idea of an independent air force. During his tenure, Trenchard laid the foundations for much of the RAF's development during the run up to the Second World War, and very much created the culture and sense of identity within the RAF that endure to this day. Despite being initially opposed to the creation of an independent air force, while he commanded the Royal Flying Corps on the Western Front in 1917, Trenchard's influence during the 1920s has often led to him being styled as the 'Father of the Royal Air Force'.

Today we have Dr Sophy Antrobus (King's College London) on the show. Sophy served in the RAF for twenty years as an Air Operations Officer and has since undertaken a PhD during which she researched the early politics of air power during the inter war period.