Battle of Britain: Canadian Airmen in their Finest Hour

by Ted Barris

The gripping and heroic story of fighter pilots defending the skies over Britain from unprecedented Nazi attack

For 113 terrifying days in 1940, Nazi Germany’s air force, the Luftwaffe, threw everything it had at Great Britain in hopes of early victory in World War II. The task of defending southern England from airborne attack fell to pilots in the Royal Air Force, supplemented in their darkest hour by more than 100 flyers from Canada. These Canadians, some from famous families, some straight off the farm, served in forty-seven different Battle of Britain squadrons.

Now, for the first time, bestselling military historian Ted Barris’s tells the riveting story of their crucial role in this how they accounted for 130 German aircraft destroyed, another thirty probably destroyed and more than seventy damaged, with twenty pilots dying in action and twelve awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses. Battle of Canadian Airmen in their Finest Hour is a must for enthusiasts of military and aviation history.

Genres: History, Aviation, Canada

424 pages, Hardcover

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Ted Barris is an accomplished author, journalist and broadcaster. As well as hosting stints on CBC Radio and regular contributions to The Globe and Mail, the National Post, and various national magazines, he is a full-time professor of journalism at Centennial College in Toronto. Barris has authored seventeen non-fiction books, including the national bestsellers Victory at Vimy and Juno.

Reviews

[Enid Wray]

I always marvel that Ted is such a brilliant researcher… and that he manages to unearth phenomenal primary and secondary source material, and run with it.

But I have to say that I enjoyed Rush To Danger: Medics in the Line of Fire better than this. It was more like a story - and of course it was very personal, being his own father’s story.

This just spends too much time in the weeds - in minutiae of detail. The big picture gets lost.

This will appeal to the hard core war history buff, especially where that intersects with a passion for flying.

Thanks to the publisher and EDelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy. Apologies for the delay in getting this post up.

2.5 rounded up to 3

[Jason Baskerville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very engaging book about our Canadian pilots and ground crews in the Battle of Britain. I wasn't sure I was going to appreciate the writing style at first, but I found the book to move along well and make good transitions between stories and events without bouncing all over the place. Sometimes, when I'm following the story of many individuals, it is difficult for me to remember who is who. To aid with this, the author often included little reminders about where the person was from, or attached a particular fact or trait to the person that helped to distinguish them in my mind. I appreciated that - it helped everything make sense. There were also many helpful notes easily accessible at the bottom of the page to add detail. [If an anniversary edition is ever published in the future, it might be handy to have an appendix with pictures or silhouettes of the different aircraft involved in the story. Many of our WWII aircraft are no longer flying, and they small number that are require increasing funds and volunteer hours to keep them air-worthy. Those reading this book 10 years from now may not have had the opportunity to see any of these masterfully built fly in person.]

As a fan of miliary aviation, and the warbirds of WWII in particular, I thought this book was very well researched and well-written. I thank each of the men and women who served in this conflict for their service, and find that this would be a fitting tribute to ensure that they, and the sacrifices they made, are never forgotten. Lest we forget.

[Julian Cappelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative 👍

[Greg Hopkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

$24 for an eBook edition? Why is the price so steep? I can buy a new release Stephen King novel for significantly less. Had this on my reading list but not sure I can justify.

[Doug Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Near the end of the book, Mr. Barris includes about ten pages describing the 1969 movie The Battle of Britain. He quotes The Guardian's description of the movie as "neither a very good movie, nor a very formidable piece of history." I'm sorry to say that I feel pretty much the same way about this book.

I really wanted to give Mr. Barris 5 stars just for writing about fellow Canadians in the Battle of Britain and also because I was lucky enough to score a personally signed copy off the shelf of my local book store; but in good conscience I just can't do it. So 3 Stars it is.

Before I go further, one major historical error must be corrected: the primary German fighter was the Bf109 (not the Me109) and the twin engined fighter bomber was the Bf110 (not the Me110) because they were both produced by Bayerische Flugzeugwerke. The name was changed to Messerschmitt AG in July 1938, so that later aircraft had the "Me" prefix, but the 109 and 110 were produced before the name change. This is well known so I can only assume this error was introduced deliberately. Bizarre.

The book does have some detail which I appreciated, such as the daily pay for a Pilot Officer, Flying Officer, and Flight Lieutenant, but overall I got the impression that it was a rather hastily assembled collection of anecdotes from other widely available and much better books, such as The Spitfire Luck of Skeets Ogilvie, many of which I have also read and therefore recognized the quotes. I found Mr. Barris's writing style a bit awkward at times and had to read some things several times to get his meaning, such as "...338 rounds for each inner gun, 324 rounds for the next gun, and 338 rounds each for the two outer guns, or the equivalent of 1,100 rounds per minute." on P211. Eh? He seems to be saying that the second statement is a re-statement of the first, but magazine capacity and rate of fire are different concepts. Also, is that 1,100 rounds per minute per gun, or for all 8 guns (4 in each wing) combined? I know the answer but he leaves it murky for those who may not.

In addition, there are a number of rather sloppy inconsistencies, such as "57 nights of the Blitz" on P197 and then "eight months of the Blitz" on the very next page! Also: "Their 126 confirmed destroyed enemy aircraft versus fifteen Hurricanes lost (in forty-two days) was the best claim/loss ratio in the RAF in 1940." on P285, where, despite having previously talked about the problem of "over claiming" by combatants on both sides, here he manages to conflate victories/kills with claims. They are not the same! Sloppy.

I liked that he started off talking about the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and the associated politics but he didn't finish the story. How many pilots did it produce? How good were they? How successful was it in the end?

There are also deviations from his stated subject, such as: British woman Dorothy Firth's experiences in the Blitz, with her tenuous connection to Canada being that she married a Canadian; and the aforementioned ten page digression into Hollywood. There is plenty of material on Canadians in the Battle of Britain to fill a book much bigger than this one without even doing much digging.

All that said, it is a decent survey of a relatively small part of Canada's involvement in the Battle and I did find the digressions nonetheless interesting. I also appreciated that he talked about other contributions, such as aircraft designers, and not just fighter pilots. In fact, that might be the book's biggest strength. So it was certainly worth the read, especially if you are less irritated by some of the sloppiness than I was.

Rating: 3 Stars.

[Chad Manske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ted Barris' "Battle of Britain: Canadian Airmen in their Finest Hour" is a compelling and meticulously researched account that sheds new light on a pivotal moment in World War II history. This 371-page tome offers a fresh perspective on the Battle of Britain by focusing on the often-overlooked contributions of Canadian airmen. Barris, an accomplished military historian and recent recipient of the Order of Canada, brings his considerable expertise to bear in this gripping narrative. He skillfully weaves together the stories of over 100 Canadian flyers who served across 47 different Battle of Britain squadrons, painting a vivid picture of their crucial role in defending the skies over southern England during the summer and fall of 1940. The book's strength lies in its ability to humanize these heroic figures. Barris introduces us to a diverse cast of characters, from farm boys to scions of prominent families, all thrust into the crucible of aerial combat. Their personal stories, drawn from extensive research and interviews, bring a sense of immediacy and emotional resonance to the broader historical narrative. Particularly noteworthy is Barris' account of Johnny Kent, a Winnipeg native whose journey from novice pilot to squadron leader exemplifies the remarkable adaptability and courage of these young Canadians. Kent's experiences, from testing barrage balloons to leading a Polish squadron, offer a fascinating glimpse into the multifaceted nature of the air war. Barris doesn't shy away from the grim realities of combat, detailing both the triumphs and losses of these airmen. His meticulous accounting of their achievements - 130 German aircraft destroyed, 30 probably destroyed, and over 70 damaged - underscores the significant impact of Canadian participation in the battle. While the book's focus on Canadian contributions is its primary strength, it also serves to illuminate the broader international nature of the RAF during this period. Barris skillfully contextualizes the Canadian experience within the larger tapestry of the Battle of Britain, creating a work that will appeal to both Canadian readers and international military history enthusiasts. “Battle of Britain: Canadian Airmen in their Finest Hour" is an essential addition to the literature on this crucial campaign, offering a unique and long-overdue perspective on Canada's role in one of World War II's defining moments.

[Tom Axworthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Battle of Britain, July -October 1940 was one of the early turning points of the Second World War as the outnumbered pilots of RAF fighter command stopped the Luftwaffe from gaining air superiority over Britain thereby forcing Hitler to delay and ultimately disband his planned invasion, Operation Sea Lion. Described as the"Few" ,about 700 pilots and aircraft of the RAF in July 1940 faced over 2000 German aircraft flushed with success with their victory over France.For four months the Germans bombed military installations and blitzed London and other cities at terrible cost but the RAF fought them to a standstill, denied them air superiority and Britain survived. As the Battle of Britain ensued new pilots were trained, pilots were shifted from Bomber Command to Fighter Command and pilots from other countries joined the fight with ultimately about 20% of the Allied pilots who fought in the Battle coming from other countries including Poles, New Zealanders, Czechs and over a 100 Canadians..Ted Barris, author of many books on Canada's military history describes the Battle of Britain in all its phases but does so through the personal stories of the men and women who fought it.It is a very effective method because one quickly realizes that behind the numbers of planes, sorties and casualties there are human stories of bravery and anguish.Barris tells these stories with verve and Canada should both remember and be proud of the Canadian members of " the Few" who thwarted Hitler at the pinnacle of his success , saving the world by their valour.

[Dave Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ted Barris continues to produce histories of global events that included Canadians. This one, “Battle of Britain“ tells the story of Canadians interested in aviation and ultimately serving in either the RAF, or the RCAF; it tells the story of strategies, both successful and unsuccessful on the British and the German sides of the English channel, and most of all details, the story of the air battle that was the Battle of Britain that ultimately saved the island nation from invasion.

Not only are the Canadians represented, but so are the Poles led by Canadian Johnny Kent. Most of us know how the battle of Britain turned out; these stories detail the people both in the air, and on the ground who made it work. Also, represented is a variety of people on the ground, who witnessed the dogfights, downed pilots parachuting, and airplanes crashing along with those who found themselves in the Blitz.

I was perhaps, slightly confused reading about one kill here, one kill there, and trying to reconcile that with the total number of losses by both sides
But overall, a gripping and most informative read!

[Art Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not much of a history buff but this account of the battle of Britain bring the monumentality of this battle down to a very human scale. From the brashness of youthful barnstormers who become the frontlines of what was truly a do or die situation for the british people, the very people who looked up every day and saw it taking place beofre their eyes. Layer into this the backstory of the zero to sixty pace of wartime production of aircraft thanks to Canadian Lord Beaverbrook's genius and drive and you have a gripping story of brinksmanship at the macro level which mirrors the brinskmanship of the flyers at a micro level.
A fascinating and scary read. Scary to think how very differently this could have all turned out. Perhaps the book's greatest achievement is bringing what are quickly becoming faded stories from long ago and making the seem so current and urgent. I have to say it, against the backdrop of our current age, it fills me with disgust the way the gift of freedom that generation sacrificed and spilled blood for is so carelessly chucked aside in support of the same types of thugs our parents and grandparents fought against.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Battle of Britain: Canadian Airmen in their Finest Hour
Ted Barris
314 pp.

Previously read his account of Canadian Involvement in the Dambusters but his time a hard cover book.

I’d not known before of Polish airmans’ participation in Britain. That pilots were trained in Canada and planes built here I did know. The Gimly Glider used one of the old bases and another is in Debert, NS.

The British air force was buried in a preoccupation for bureaucracy and paperwork. A commander arrived at his new base to discover his only flyers were seagulls. Asked if his fleet was air worthy a base commander reported that he had planes and airmen but not a single spanner, spark plug or oil can in sight.

Faced with a rainy day and looming due date I sat down and read the last 100 pages in one setting. In true understated Canadian style Canadian flyers did not blow their own horns, they let their actions speak for themselves. The one sour note is the lack of recognition given the Polish flyers.

[Ian Kittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a great fan of this author as well as him as a presenter of Canadian history. I have enjoyed two of his presentations.

Being firstly British until I became a Canadian Citizen, I have always had an interest in the Battle of Britain. Being raised in Southend-on-Sea, many RAF Squadrons flew protecting the River Thames.

This has to be the most fascinating book on the Battle of Britain I have read. Although mainly about Canadian Squadron’s, it gives a solid account of this whole military operation.

The small facts and details about life during the Blitz in London is very well researched. The personal interview with witnesses

I cannot praise this book enough and thank the author for challenging himself to create a masterpiece of a book. A true history. I only wish my school history lessons were as exciting and meaningful as this book.

The pilots who made the ultimate sacrifice should always be honoured and remembered.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and would have given it 3.5 stars. I always read the books written by my grade school friend, Ted Barris. This one was a bit disappointing in that it often seemed like a list of who flew which plane and how many Luftwaffe planes were shot down. Still, it was interesting to know about the Canadian participation in the Battle of Britain.

[Anja Noordam · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many details, for me it got in the way of the story, but I did learn a few new interesting things, appreciate the way the Poles were included. A book that describes the reality of this war, and does a good job at it

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine piece of scholarship. You feel like you really get to know the pilots.