Battle of Britain books. Recommendations?

[MB_Avro_UK]

Originally Posted by Kurfürst

In addition to the above, these ones, for a in depth German background on the BoB:

http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media...090518-051.pdf
http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media...090518-052.pdf
http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media...090518-055.pdf

From: http://www.afhra.af.mil/studies/numb...ies151-200.asp

Many thanks. Very useful reading.

[MB_Avro_UK]

Originally Posted by Dutch_851

Most Dangerous Enemy - Essential reading. Best BoB book ever in my view, covers every aspect from leadership to technology to manufacturing output to aircraft to politics to the men themselves, in a very objective but easily readable way.

Fighter boys - also very good book focussing mainly on the men themselves, from Albert Ball, Mannock, McCudden to Malan, Stanford Tuck and many lesser known pilots, many of whom were killed, but left diaries.

First Light - Nothing need be said here I think.

Johnny Kent - 'One of the Few' great stories of building his own aircraft as a youth in Canada to death defying Test Piloting at Farnborough to leading 303 Polish Squadron, 92 Squadron and a lot of interesting post-war stuff.

Spitfire Story - Alfred Price, if you want the story of the aircraft itself.

Not read Bob Doe's book or Brian Kingcombe's and many others but will get there eventually!

Derek Robinson touched on his views on the invasion in his novel 'Piece of Cake' but I've not read Invasion 1940.

I have a signed copy of Bob Doe's book. An honest and modest Ace in my view. He died recently. He received little recognition until a few years ago. He had to work hard all his life to make ends meet financially.

He would have been better off as a Premier Division Footballer and made far more money.

C'est la vie...


Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

[Moggy]

Originally Posted by Dutch_851

Derek Robinson touched on his views on the invasion in his novel 'Piece of Cake' but I've not read Invasion 1940.

Dutch, I've got Derek Robinson's Invasion 1940 (well most of his books actually). Although he makes a convincing argument about German intentions, I don't agree with him. Well worth a read if you're into his style of writing...which I am.

[ATAG_Dutch]

Originally Posted by Moggy

Dutch, I've got Derek Robinson's Invasion 1940 (well most of his books actually). Although he makes a convincing argument about German intentions, I don't agree with him. Well worth a read if you're into his style of writing...which I am.

Thanks Moggy (where did you get that name? Always had my suspicions!), I am also. I actually prefer Goshawk Squadron to Piece of Cake and must get the prequels sometime.

[Mr_Steven]

Wing Leader by Johnnie Johnson, phenomenal.

Really cool part about when they first encounter Focke Wulf 190's and nobody has any idea what the hell they are.

[kendo65]

A favourite of mine is The Hardest Day by Alfred Price. It's a bit different in that it's an in-depth account of one day - 18th August 1940 - told from perspective of both sides with a great sense of drama (there's a great account of the low-level raid on Kenley by Do17s).

Bungay reused some of the material in his book (also a great read)

[philip.ed]

Originally Posted by Dutch_851

Thanks Moggy (where did you get that name? Always had my suspicions!), I am also. I actually prefer Goshawk Squadron to Piece of Cake and must get the prequels sometime.

The prequels are brilliant! I read it in that order too, Dutch (Goshawk Squadron, then War Story and then Hornets Sting). BTW, if I were you, I'd buy Hornets Sting from Robinson directly. He self publishes now, which is far cheaper than the £60 Amazon charges! (he has his own website).

[ATAG_Dutch]

Originally Posted by philip.ed

The prequels are brilliant! I read it in that order too, Dutch (Goshawk Squadron, then War Story and then Hornets Sting). BTW, if I were you, I'd buy Hornets Sting from Robinson directly. He self publishes now, which is far cheaper than the £60 Amazon charges! (he has his own website).

Yep I know philip thanks.

Was on his website recently. I really like his approach to all of this stuff.

I registered with Rise of Flight as 'Major Woolley' funnily enough, and after a couple of times flying online, someone asked me, 'not Major Stanley Woolley?'

I answered 'the very same!'.

He responded with 'Honoured to meet you sir!'

I said 'Bugger off.' Which I thought was appropriate!

[philip.ed]

Originally Posted by Dutch_851

Yep I know philip thanks.

Was on his website recently. I really like his approach to all of this stuff.

I registered with Rise of Flight as 'Major Woolley' funnily enough, and after a couple of times flying online, someone asked me, 'not Major Stanley Woolley?'

I answered 'the very same!'.

He responded with 'Honoured to meet you sir!'

I said 'Bugger off.' Which I thought was appropriate!

Hahaha LOL that's excellent *fighting the temptation to give away elements of Wooley's earlier character*

[Moggy]

Originally Posted by philip.ed

The prequels are brilliant! I read it in that order too, Dutch (Goshawk Squadron, then War Story and then Hornets Sting). BTW, if I were you, I'd buy Hornets Sting from Robinson directly. He self publishes now, which is far cheaper than the £60 Amazon charges! (he has his own website).

I love the WWI book series as well, they just ooze Derek Robinson!

Strangely enough though, I never got on with the Piece of cake TV series made. It just lacked a certain something (Hurricanes aside) which the book captured brilliantly.