The Manchester Guardian and The Observer welcomed the newly-formed Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918, as articles republished for the Centenary show.
Although The Guardian warned that the ‘military value of the air bombardment of cities and the slaughter of non-combatants has not yet been shown’, it also pointed to ample evidence of its ‘immense effect’ when concentrated on roads, bridges and railways supplying the enemy front line.
The Observer was confident the RAF would win immediate fame, offering ‘inspiration during the years to come’.
Read the full articles in The Guardian.