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Battle of Britain Books

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Sian_QMU (U14077092) on Tuesday, 21st July 2009

  Hi I've just read 'The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain' by Stephen Bungay which was a really great book in getting to the bottom of things but I was wondering if anyone knows of any other good Battle of Britain books? I've been inspired and want to know more...

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  Posted by Spruggles (U13892773) on Tuesday, 21st July 2009

  Sian_QMU
  If you can get hold of a copy of 'Battle over Britain' by Francis K Mason which is an excellent day-by-day account, or the 'Narrow Margin'by Wood/Dempster; 'The Battle of Britain' by Hough/Richards. For more personal accounts try 'The Battle of Britain' by Richard Overy; 'Ginger Lacey, Fighter pilot' by Richard Townsend Bickers; 'The Lonely Warrior' by Jean Offenberg' or the very excellent 'First Light' by Geoffrey Wellum. There is also the excellent personal history as seen by Free French pilot Pierre Glostermann, 'The Big Show'. You might find a copy at AbeBooks.UK, well worth the try.
  Good reading Spruggs.

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  Posted by Spruggles (U13892773) on Tuesday, 21st July 2009

  Sian_QMU,
  Just checked and all of those mentioned are available via abebooks.co.uk. At varying prices too!
  Regards Spruggs.

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  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Tuesday, 21st July 2009

  Sian
  
  I would also recommend Hough and Richard's "The Battle of Britain" as the definitive account (Bungay is a great read, but his analysis is actually not particularly good, in my opinion.)
  
  John Ray's "The Battle of Britain - New Perspectives" is very good, and a great deal of common sense, on the Big Wing controversy and Dowding's departure.
  
  Alfred Price's "The Hardest Day" and "Battle of Britain Day" each of which examines in detail a key day in the Battle are also to be recommended.
  
  I would alswo recommend Vincent Orange's "Park", his extremely well-written biography of Keith Park, which covers Park's performance as Dowding's SASO and then AOC 11 Group during the crucdial months of 1940. It also covers the rest of Park's career - it is often forgotten that he was later AOC Malta, AOC Egypt and finally Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Allied Air Forces South East Asia (ironically replacing Leigh-Mallory, who had been killed in an air crash).
  
  Cheers
  
  LW

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  Posted by giraffe47 (U4048491) on Tuesday, 21st July 2009

  Just read Wellum's book - slow starter, but excellent combat descriptions once it gets going. None better from a pilot's perspective.

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