The Battle of Britain: New Perspectives - Behind the Scenes of the Great Air War

by JohnRay (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  1996

  $3.43

  This is a reassessment of how RAF fighters defeated the German Luftwaffe in 1940 and saved Britain from invasion. This book examines significant elements of the battle, including personality clashes in the RAF, opposing policies in the Air Ministry, and the controversial treatment of Hugh Dowding. The author examines how Dowding commanded his squadrons, and how every day he was under personal attack from rivals for his position, and from enemies in the Air Ministry who espoused different defensive measures, despite the severity of the attack and the manifest success of Dowding's methods. Also examined is the effect of this controversy on the fighter pilots' tactics; there is a detailed view from the Luftwaffe side, and also a explanation of why Dowding was immediately retired at the end of the conflict, and never rewarded like other successful commanders.

• Used

  Hardcover
  1994

  $3.28

  The story of how RAF fighters defeated the Luftwaffe in 1940 and saved Britain from invasion is a well known national tradition, but over a decade of new research has allowed reassessment of significant elements of the battle. Central to all these is the personality clashes behind the scenes in the RAF that frequently threatened to be more dangerous than the Luftwaffe attacks. The author examines why Dowding commanded his squadrons in the well-known tactics, but how every day he was under personal attack from rivals for his position and from enemies throughout the Air Ministry who wanted different ideas and defences, despite the severity of the threat and Dowding's success. Also examined is the effect of this on the air fighting, a detailed view from the Luftwaffe side and finally an answer as to why Dowding was immediately retired at the end of his finest hour to obscurity and never rewarded as every other successful commander was.