Battle of Britain: The pilots and planes that made history

by Simon Pearson

'A useful contribution to an overcrowded field of history by giving deserved attention to the ordinary men and unsung machines that aren't usually included in the dramatic narrative. ' - The Times

'A great read and a real eye-opener to anyone who thinks the Battle of Britain is only about Brits and Germans and Messerschmitts and Spitfires. The value in this account is also the way the back stories of many previously unheralded pilots come to life.' - General Sir David Richards, former Chief of the Defence Staff

***

In Battle of The pilots and planes that made history , Ed Gorman and Simon Pearson paint a vivid picture of the men and their machines as the battle for air superiority over Britain is played out across the skies of Europe, from the west of Ireland to the German capital.

We experience the battle chronologically through the remarkable stories of eighteen airmen from across the world. Some will be new to many the New Zealander who "borrowed" a seaplane from the Royal Navy to set up a freelance air-sea rescue service that saved the lives of dozens of British and German pilots; the Swiss baron who claimed to have destroyed six British fighters in a day; the vainglorious commander whose RAF squadron was wiped out trying to disrupt invasion plans; and the German bomber pilot who fought the first battle involving foreign troops on British soil since Culloden - before repairing to a pub for a pint with soldiers who had taken him prisoner.

Illustrated with contemporary photographs of the pilots and their aircraft, this is an enthralling and original account from both sides of a conflict that shaped the modern world, full of courage, endeavour and, above all, humanity.

Genres: History

Paperback

Published May 27, 2021

About the author

Simon Pearson has worked on The Times since 1986. His interest in military history was stimulated by his father who served with the RAF in World War Two. He is the author of the bestselling The Great Escaper, published in 2013 and described by the Sunday Times as ‘enthralling, an astounding story of honour and resilience’.

Reviews

[Mike Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well .... a good attempt at making the Battle of Britain a human experience rather than merely a documented period of history. Each chapter is focussed on an aeroplane which flew in the battle and on a named pilot who flew that type of aeroplane at that time. It works - kinda.

Where it failed, for me, is that I need a more sustained narrative than the chapters provided. Geoff Wellum's "First Light" will stay with me longer because he carried the story forward in a manner which flowed better. With First Light you came away feeling that you had lived a little of the experience yourself and your understanding and sympathy was greater as a result (well, mine was). This book didn't spend long enough with anyone's story for me to really take an interest and so the end result is that I feel like I've overheard some conversations rather than that I've been involved in the conversations themselves.

Does that make sense? I hope so. This was a good read, just not as good as it could have been.

[Colin Parte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb read. Lots of fascinating detail. Made me want to start modelling Airfix kits again.

[Dr Ian M Newington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought on a whim and wasn't quite what I expected but a nice change from the usual and learned a lot.

[Pirate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read featuring not your usual suspects Bader/Gibson etc but pilots from across the spectrum both from 'The Few' and less celebrated wings as well as from the Axis including one Italian Warrant Officer Giuseppe Ruzzin (though it is unfortunate there is a typo in his name in the book Guiseppe....he deserved better even if the engagement of the Italians woefully under-prepared and flying antiquated aircraft is largely unknown). Fair amount of gallantry between the pilots and dollops obviously of heroism although the relatives of the wonderfully named Wing Commander Edward Collis de Virac Lart may not enjoy the ride. Curious entry on Sergeant Ernst Wedding who flew a Heinkel and was never decorated but came through alive and remarked his first bombing mission was like 'a B movie'. Curiously though he gives colourful testimonies about his wartime experiences -- he ended up in Nebraska of all places post war as a POW but eventually settled in Uxbridge marrying an English lady -- the authors got no response to enquiries about him from German war websites nor is there any record of him in the books about the Heinkel KG55. More concrete are the valiant escapades of Polish Pilot Officer Boleslaw Wlasnowolski one of many who made their way to the UK to fight. Tragically due to a change of command instead of going on leave he was forced by a martinet of a new commanding officer to be on call and was shot down and killed. Many are vivid portraits others less so and rather dull which is sad given their heroism and sacrifices. But certainly worth a read as they were remarkable warriors, cavaliers all, up in the sky. with just a parachute they hoped would operate if they had to bale out. Thank Heavens for The Few of which only one remains an Irishman John Hemingway DFC....101 years old!