Description

Churchill's words, "never was so much owed by so many to so few," came to encapsulate how, in a few critical months, the entire fate of the British Empire, if not the war, hung in the balance, to be determined not by world leaders or armies of millions, but by a handful of pilots fighting tirelessly in the skies over Britain.

Tony Holmes describes the key conflict of the Battle of Britain, the clash between the Spitfire and the Bf 109 - detailing not only the key elements of both aircraft types - the airframe, engine, armament and flying characteristics, but also the pilots' training and both British and German tactics. The growing influence of radar and the efforts of British coastal defences are also examined, as are real-life engagements - from both German and British perspectives. With a wealth of previously unpublished material including first-hand accounts from the veterans who strapped themselves into these now legendary machines as well as lavish illustrations and cockpit-view artwork, this book puts the reader in the midst of a dogfight. This is a unique insight into one of the greatest duels of history in the world's first major aerial battle.

Table of Contents

Introduction · Chronology · Strategic situation· Design & Development · Technical Specifications · Combatants · Combat:· Analysis: · Conclusion · Bibliography and further reading list

Product details

Published Nov 20 2007
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 80
ISBN 9781846031908
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 40 b/w; 20 col
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Duel
Short code DUE 5
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Tony Holmes

Having initially worked for Osprey as an author in…

Illustrator

Jim Laurier

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives i…

Illustrator

Mark Postlethwaite

Mark Postlethwaite was born in Leicestershire in 1…

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