The role of the “few”, as described by Churchill, during the Battle of Britain has been the subject of much mythologizing both at the time and in the years since.
This book puts Fighter Command in context; describing the lack of funding and attention which it received during the interwar period, until it was almost too late. Taking the myth of the fighter pilot alongside first-hand accounts, this book shows how the war put nervous but brave human beings from all walks of life in the cockpit.
Although the Battle of Britain may not have in itself been the decisive encounter that it has historically been portrayed as, the moral victory won by the RAF, the victory that proved that Germany could be defeated, was just as important as a military-strategic victory.
RAF Fighter Command in the inter-war period
Recruitment and training
Equipment: flying clothing and uniform
Aircraft of Fighter Command
On Campaign: conditions in theatre
Belief and Belonging
Experience of battle: tactics of air combat
Museums and surviving aircraft
Bibliography
Index
Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
Lieutenant Mark Barber RN is a pilot based at RNAS Culdrose. His dissertation on the Fleet Air Arm in the Mediterranean in World War II was named as the best in year at the Royal Navy Academy, Dartmouth. He was named Best Aircrew Officer upon graduation of his class.
Graham Turner is a leading historical artist. He has illustrated numerous titles for Osprey, covering a wide variety of subjects. The son of the illustrator Michael Turner, Graham lives and works in Buckinghamshire, UK.