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 With a wealth of previously unpublished material including first-hand accounts from the veterans who strapped themselves into these now legendary machines as well as lavish illustrations and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.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Excellent!:
Very interesting. Has pics, drawins, tech info. Easy to read, and lots of info.
a rather slim volume:
An obvious title in this interesting new series from Osprey, with a more 'graphic' style of publication, cutaways, three views etc...Unfortunately there is little direct comparison of the two types and Holmes presents an entirely conventional view of the classic aerial joust that was the Battle of Britain. In fact the author doesn't really commit himself on which of the two aeroplanes was the better fighter, but does argue that the Spitfire prevented the Luftwaffe from gaining aerial ascendancy, thus... more info
Good:
Good details on the aircraft. I would have been happier if there were more on the people who flew these birds into combat.
well balanced comparison.:
Having bought many Osprey titles in the past i pretty much knew what to expect and wasn't disappointed. As with other books of theirs, there are plenty of photos to go along with the info as well as some color drawings of the aircraft. A nice feature are the ones of the interior of both planes. I also enjoyed the short biographies of several 109 and spitfire aces. As the title indicates this book only concerns itself with the battle of Britain phase of the war so only the early models of the planes are... more info
