Volume VIII – The Australian Flying Corps in the Western and Eastern Theatres of War, 1914–1918 (11th edition, 1941)

This volume by F.M. Cutlack covers in great detail the first air operations in war undertaken by Australia. These first operations were carried out by the famous "Half Flight" of the Australian Flying Corps which was despatched to disease-ridden Mesopotamia in 1915 to provide air services for the Anglo-Indian Army. This army was attempting to drive out the Turks and thus protect the Empire's oil resources.

The next phase came in early 1916, with the formation of No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, and its despatch to Egypt where it took part in operations in the Sinai desert and then Palestine. Cutlack places in perspective the role played by the young Australian aviators in helping to win air supremacy against the German Air Force. After that victory, the Australian pilots had a devastating effect in the ground attack role, particularly in the final offensive against the Turkish armies in 1918.

Finally, Cutlack describes the achievements of squadrons 2, 3, and 4, which arrived in France at a late, crucial stage of the war. After the briefest introduction to an entirely new way of fighting, they were sent into the thick of the aerial battle, remaining on operations until the war ended.

The introduction by George Odgers, to the University of Queensland Press edition can be found here: https://www.awm.gov.au/official-histories/first_world_war/volVIII_introduction

• Preface, Contents, List of illustrations, List of maps, List of sketch maps, and Introduction – The Flying Arm in War (pages i - xxix )
• Chapter I – Mesopotamia – The First Australian Airmen on Service (pages 1 - 13 )
• Mesopotamia – The End of the First Campaign (pages 14 - 28 )
• The Middle East – Advent of No. 1 Squadron (pages 29 - 42 )
• Air Fighting in the Desert (pages 43 - 55 )
• Increasing Importance of Air Warfare (pages 56 - 68 )
• The Victory of Gaza (pages 69 - 81 )
• The Turkish Retreat to Nablus (pages 82 - 91 )
• Beginning of the Air Offensive (pages 92 - 104 )
• The Raids Across the Jordan (pages 105 - 120 )
• Growing British Supremacy in the Air (pages 121 - 132 )
• The Enemy Driven from the Sky (pages 133 - 150 )
• The Battle of Armageddon (pages 151 - 171 )
• Australian Airmen in France (pages 172 - 182 )
• Cambrai and Gouzeaucourt (pages 183 - 197 )
• Winter Work over Messines Ridge (pages 198 - 212 )
• Spring Fights North of the Scarpe (pages 213 - 227 )
• Meeting the German Offensive (pages 228 - 246 )
• Early Circus Fights with No. 2 Squadron (pages 247 - 259 )
• No. 3 Squadron's Operations over the Somme (pages 260 - 275 )
• Exploits of No. 4 Squadron over the Lys (pages 276 - 290 )
• Harassing the Enemy on the Lys (pages 291 - 304 )
• The British Offensive on the Somme (pages 305 - 318 )
• The Battles in the Hindenburg Line (pages 319 - 336 )
• The Lille Air Raids (pages 337 - 351 )
• Fights of the Sweep Formations (pages 352 - 369 )
• The Last Great Air Battles (pages 370 - 385 )
• Flights Home to Australia (pages 386 - 396 )
• Appendix 1 – Types of Fighting Aeroplanes (pages 397 - 420 )
• Appendix 2 – Correspondence Relating to Formation of AFC (pages 421 - 425 )
• Appendix 3 – War Flying Instruction in Australia (pages 426 - 426 )
• Appendix 4 – Aircraft Wireless (pages 427 - 429 )
• Appendix 5 – AFC Training in England (pages 430 - 433 )
• Appendix 6 – Organisation of RAF in France (pages 434 - 436 )
• Appendix 7 – Aeroplane Counter–attacks on the German Army, March 1918 (pages 437 - 439 )
• Appendix 8 – Aerodrome Work in the Squadron (pages 440 - 442 )
• Appendix 9 – Use of Incendiary Bullets (pages 443 - 444 )
• Glossary (pages 445 - 452 )
• Index (pages 453 - 494 )