Slipping from the stratosphere: British aerospace in the superpower era

Abstract

 In the aftermath of the Second World War the possession of aerospace technology—missiles, rockets and civil and military aircraft—was one of the hallmarks of a powerful nation, as well as an important diplomatic tool. Britain had a tremendous amount of expertise in these fields. The rise of the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, had transformed the international political and strategic situation. How would Britain use her technology to safeguard her interests in these changed circumstances? How and why did she fall behind? This thesis sets out to investigate these questions and determine the role aerospace played in influencing Britain’s relations with allies and neighbours in a new age. It looks at how she faced up to the dilemma of deciding whether to forge ever closer links with her transatlantic ally or overturn centuries of history by entering Europe. The study examines major British aerospace projects, their relative success or failure and their political legacy. It also looks at some of the personalities involved in the story, to illustrate attitudes to technology in Whitehall, the boardroom and the drawing office. Ultimately, it seeks to explain how the decisions that were made in the post-war decades shaped the country’s eventual destiny.