The Battle of Britain: The Jubilee History

The victory of the Battle of Britain ranks with Marathon and the Marne as a decisive point in history. At the end of June 1940, with Western Europe overrun by the Germans, the Nazi war leaders knew that RAF Fighter Command had to be subdued before the invasion of Britain could take place. They set about this destruction early in July with a magnificent and experienced bomber force, and a fighter arm superior in numbers, and at least equal in quality to Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding's fighter squadrons. Twelve weeks later the heart had gone out of the German air assault. In another four weeks the Battle of Britain was officially over, and Western civilisation still retained its toe-hold in Europe.
Denis Richards, co-author of the official history of RAF operations in World War Two, and Richard Hough, the historian and biographer, have collaborated to write this magnificent new account for the general reader; as well as offering vivid descriptions of the air fighting, it explains with great authority how both sides developed their air forces in the inter-war years, a necessary prelude to a true understanding of the Battle itself. It provides fresh insights into the controversies of the time and makes use of original material derived from interviews and correspondence with over three hundred surviving air-crew and ground staff.
High above the warm summer fields, Churchill's 'few' fought with unsurpassed courage and skill. The aircrews, including the priceless element of pilots from the Commonwealth as well as vengeful young men from the overrun nations of Europe, suffered inevitable and dreadful losses. But this prolonged battle in the skies could only have been won with the unremitting support of thousands of citizens on the ground. The Battle was a national crusade that united the British people and was followed with awe and deep anxiety by the Western world.
Throughout their work, the authors have benefited from the support of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association, the Air Historical Branch of the Ministry of Defence, the Imperial War Museum and the RAF Museum, among other official bodies.
The book has many illustrations in colour and black and white, including reproductions of paintings by distinguished war artists, which catch the spirit of the time, and is well documented with maps, charts, details of formations and a day-by-day chronology.


by Richard Hough and Denis Richards
Published by Guild Publishing 1990 edition
413pp illustrated, some colour, index, appendix 13x20 yellowed, otherwise fine, including d/j.





Note:
"Long" descriptions, where shown, may have been taken from the book's dust jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.