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General Aviation
The Battle of Britain
Published in association with the Imperial War Museum in London to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, this book brings one of the most important battles of World War II to life. Lavishly illustrated with photographs, contemporary art and propaganda posters, and accompanied by numerous first-hand accounts, The Battle of Britain captures the reality and the romance of a defining chapter in British history. Moreover, it offers a detailed analysis of the events immediately preceding the battle, the key strategic decisions by opposing commanders that altered the course of the battle, as well as the development of criticial weaponry and defenses that dramatically changed the way aerial combat was fought.
Moore's book pays tribute to visionaries such as R. J. Mitchell and Air Chief Marshall Lord Dowding, who ensured that, rather than simply a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat, this was a battle for which Britain's Fighter Command was uniquely prepared. Such preparation nearly guaranteed that although the British were vastly outnumbered, they could confidently counter the German fighter planes and bombers that darkened the skies throughout the summer of 1940. It was this small band of men and women, covered in detail in this title, that were the first to successfully oppose the seemingly unstoppable tide of the Nazi war machine, irrevocably altering the course of the rest of the war.
Moore's book pays tribute to visionaries such as R. J. Mitchell and Air Chief Marshall Lord Dowding, who ensured that, rather than simply a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat, this was a battle for which Britain's Fighter Command was uniquely prepared. Such preparation nearly guaranteed that although the British were vastly outnumbered, they could confidently counter the German fighter planes and bombers that darkened the skies throughout the summer of 1940. It was this small band of men and women, covered in detail in this title, that were the first to successfully oppose the seemingly unstoppable tide of the Nazi war machine, irrevocably altering the course of the rest of the war.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
200 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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31 people want to read
About the author
Kate Moore
1 bookKate Moore studied Modern History at the University of Cape Town and completed a Masters in the same subject at Oxford University, where her final thesis was on the Battle of Britain. She has an interest in all periods of history but her first love will always be the key events of 1940. Based in the Osprey Head Office, Kate is the Publisher for the General Military list.
(Source: Amazon.)
(Source: Amazon.)
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 16, 2021
Spoiler - Britain wins the Battle of Britain. You do not know this until page 177 of the 187 pages of text. (Unless you paid attention in history class). This was not a short battle. Officially, July 10, 1940 to Oct 31, 1940. On page 177, Germany's operation Sea Lion was canceled on Sept 17. The key to the cancellation was anther convincing air victory on Sept 15 by the RAF (Royal Air Force). Even if you did pay attention in history class, you have an uneasy feeling with only 10 pages remaining, that either side could win!
The Dunkirk evacuation concluded on June 4. Soon afterward, Winston Churchill gave is famous battle-naming speech on June 18, and foretold of what truly became 'their finest hour'.
What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation. Upon it depends our own British life and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of a perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour"
The Blitz on London actually continued into May of 1941, so the Battle of Britain can not truly be constrained to a window of time. But September 15 is the "Battle of Britain Day" to commemorate the air battle where David beat Goliath well enough for Hitler to scrap his invasion plans. On this Sunday in 1941, over 1500 combined aircraft fought in the sky, with Britain the acknowledged victor.
The US was not yet in the war. If Britain had fallen, would Hitler have prevailed? Hitler turned east (after canceling operation Sea Lion invasion of Britain) against a staunch Russia and found another brick wall. But the free world today needs to give many thanks to the brave teens and 20-year-olds that went into the sky for months, maybe five times per day, to do individual battles to save their collective nation (and more).
This is a very well put-together oversize book. Lots of applicable pictures that perfectly match the text in which they are inserted. Constant use of first-person narrative accounts. Occasional pages with a detailed focus on a specific pilot or military leader personality. Definitely a book I'd like to own.
The Dunkirk evacuation concluded on June 4. Soon afterward, Winston Churchill gave is famous battle-naming speech on June 18, and foretold of what truly became 'their finest hour'.
What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation. Upon it depends our own British life and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of a perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour"
The Blitz on London actually continued into May of 1941, so the Battle of Britain can not truly be constrained to a window of time. But September 15 is the "Battle of Britain Day" to commemorate the air battle where David beat Goliath well enough for Hitler to scrap his invasion plans. On this Sunday in 1941, over 1500 combined aircraft fought in the sky, with Britain the acknowledged victor.
The US was not yet in the war. If Britain had fallen, would Hitler have prevailed? Hitler turned east (after canceling operation Sea Lion invasion of Britain) against a staunch Russia and found another brick wall. But the free world today needs to give many thanks to the brave teens and 20-year-olds that went into the sky for months, maybe five times per day, to do individual battles to save their collective nation (and more).
This is a very well put-together oversize book. Lots of applicable pictures that perfectly match the text in which they are inserted. Constant use of first-person narrative accounts. Occasional pages with a detailed focus on a specific pilot or military leader personality. Definitely a book I'd like to own.
July 24, 2011
Pure military history and I am just not a fan.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews