The Illustrated Guide to the Aircraft of the Battle of Britain

Part of the well received Illustrated guide series, "The illustrated guide to the aircraft of the Battle of Britain" is an ideal introduction to those taking an interest in the subject for the first time while still providing something a little different for the enthusiast. "The illustrated guide to the aircraft of the Battle of Britain" covers not only the usual British and German fighters and bombers but also the Italian types and the lesser known aircraft such as those used for Air Sea Rescue.

Best known for his role as Air Officer Commanding Fighter Command during the battle, Hugh Dowding's role in setting up the all important Command and Control system in the late 1930s is covered and the system itself explained with diagrams.

Performance comparisons of the leading British and German aircraft are given based on contemporary flight tests carried out in Britain France and Germany.

The views of the pilots who fought in them are also given. Perhaps as important as the merits of the aircraft themselves, the tactics employed often had a decisive effect on who lived and who died.

These tactics are discussed and illustrated. The section covering the aircraft in detail includes performance data, technical specifications and armament for all the sub types used during the battle.

A brief history of the development and subsequent use of each type is given as are three view line drawings. The week by week chronicle of the battle helps put the role of the aircraft into context while the vital role of the civilian population is acknowledged in the section outlining the work of organisations such as the Home Guard, Women's Voluntary Service and the Auxiliary Fire Service.