Battle of Britain
About this book
July 1940: as Britain stood alone, the Army exhausted and defeated by the Wehrmacht and the Roval Navy, stretched worldwide, only the English Channel and the RAF remained between Britain and the expected German invasion. But the Luftwaffe's ill-prepared and last-minute assault on the RAF was met by a carefully planned system of fighter intervention, the defensive strategy devised by Hugh Dowding, Commander-in-Chief, RAF Fighter Command. Dowding fought and won Britain's most vital victory, the Battle of Britain. Yet he was dismissed in October 1940. Why?The full story of Dowding's struggle to victory is revealed in this masterly new study by Second World War historian John Ray. Dowding was under daily attack from rivals in the RAF and at the Air Ministry, who wanted a different approach to air defence, despite the severity of the threat and Dowding's success. John Ray tracks the course of the Battle and the internal arguments that threatened Dowding's position and RAF supremacy; this new perspective, matching the ebb and flow of bitter argument in the corridors of power with the drama of war in the air, makes for an engrossing study in RAF history and reveals the truth behind the Battle of Britain.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- INTRODUCTION
- 1 - DOWDING'S POSITION IN JULY 1940
- 2 - THE THREAT FROM THE LUFTWAFFE
- 3 - THE OPENING PHASE OF BATTLE 10 JULY TO 18 AUGUST
- 4 - THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BIG WING CONTROVERSY 19 AUGUST TO 7 SEPTEMBER
- 5 - THE BATTLE WITHIN A BATTLE 7 SEPTEMBER TO 16 OCTOBER
- 6 - NIGHT AIR DEFENCE
- 7 - CHANGES AT FIGHTER COMMAND
- EPILOGUE
- PHOTOGRAPHS
- APPENDIXES
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
- NOTES
