The Battle of Britain: The Greatest Air Battle of World War II

Richard Hough's The Battle of Britain is a fascinating, in-depth look at one of the most important battles of World War II. From July to October 1940, Nazi Germany's vaunted Luftwaffe attempted to achieve air supremacy over Britain and pave the way for Operation Sea Lion, a seaborne invasion by Hitler's powerful land forces. But a few thousand British and Commonwealth pilots, along with a few Americans and representatives of other Allied nations such as Poland and Czechoslovakia flew in their Hurricanes, Defiants, and Spitfires from their bases in the United Kingdom and inflicted enough damage on the German air fleets that Hitler and Goering had to call it a day and Operation Sea Lion never took place. While it may not be unbiased nor the "definitive" work on the subject, The Battle of Britain is still very informative, particularly when dealing with the prewar preparations of Britain's air defenses and the birth of the German Luftwaffe. Maybe, as one reviewer says, someone will write the ultimate book on this incredibly fascinating battle. Until that happens, this work is a fine and fitting tribute to the "Few" who helped stave off a Nazi invasion of Great Britain in those dark days in 1940.