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 With a wealth of previously unpublished material including first-hand accounts from the veterans who strapped themselves into these now legendary machines as well as lavish illustrations and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.
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 With a wealth of previously unpublished material including first-hand accounts from the veterans who strapped themselves into these now legendary machines as well as lavish illustrations and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.
Introduction · Chronology · Strategic situation· Design & Development · Technical Specifications · Combatants · Combat:· Analysis: · Conclusion · Bibliography and further reading list
This book will explain what it felt like to be a fighter pilot during those crucial moments of the Battle of Britain flying some of the most iconic planes to have ever graced the skies during a combat when both man and machine were tested to the limit.
Tony Holmes has worked as Osprey's aerospace editor since 1989.
He established the critically acclaimed and hugely popular Aircraft
of the Aces series in 1994. Tony has written more than 20 books for
Osprey in the past 17 years. He has had a lifelong fascination with
the Battle of Britain and is in contact with the surviving veterans
of this critical conflict.
Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire.
He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from
1974–78, and since he graduated with honours, he has been working
professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has
been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation
paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon. Mark Postlethwaite
is a leading aviation artist and currently does all the cover
artwork for the Aircraft of the Aces and Combat Aircraft series for
Osprey Publishing and is based in Leicester, UK. Mark completed the
battlesene painting in this volume.
"With a wealth of first-hand accountsfrom the veterans who strapped themselves into these legendary machines as well as illustrations and cockpit-view artwork, this book puts the reader in the midst of a dogfight, providing a unique insight into one of the greatest duels of history in the world's first major aerial battle." --Flying Models (April 2008) "Tony Holmes' Spitfire vs. BF 109: Battle of Britain uses first-hand accounts from veterans who flew the planes to chart strategy, narrowing the focus to reconaissance units and analyzing their procedures." --The California Bookwatch (January 2008) "Tony Holmes covers all these salient features; design and development, technical specs, strategic situtation, the combatants, and a selection of combats that took place between the two... In all, an excellent addition to what is sure to become a popular series. I know you will enjoy it as much as I did." --Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (November 2007)
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