Description
Book SynopsisThe Battle of Britain was the decisive air campaign fought over Southern England in the summer and autumn of 1940. From 10th July until 31st October 1940 Fighter Command aircrews from over 16 nations fought and died repelling the Luftwaffe. Discover tales of courage, bravery and a host of fascinating, and little-known facts about the combatants, leaders and strategies of both sides. Find out about propaganda employed by both sides to try and influence the battle, the Dowding system relaying information to the pilots in their fighter's and the classic 1969 film starring Sir Laurence Oliver. This absorbing book is published to coincide with the commemorations surrounding the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain 2020. "The Amazing and Extraordinary Facts series" presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.
Table of Contents
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Introduction 7
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Part One: Preparations for Battle 10
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Who Named the 'Battle of Britain'? 10
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Operation Sea Lion 12
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Germany's Secret Air Force 15
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The Four Groups of 'The Few' 19
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The Major Players: Sir Hugh Dowding 23
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Radio Detection Finding (RDF) 25
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The Major Players: Air Vice Marshell Sir Keith Park 27
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The Major Players:Reichsmarschall Hermann Wilhelm Göring 29
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The Starts of the Skies: The Supermarine Spitfire 33
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The Unsung Story of Hazel Hill 36
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The Shadow Factory Plan 38
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Buried Treasure? 41
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Part Two: The Early Skirmishes 44
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The Kanalkampf 44
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The Stars of the Skies: The Messerschmitt Bf 109 48
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The Stars of the Skies: The Hawker Hurricane 52
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Protecting Convoy Peewit 56
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Operation Eagle Attack 58
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Aldertag: 13 August 1940 61
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Part Three: The Battle Intensifies 66
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'Black Thursday': 15 August 1940 64
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The Stars of the Skies: The Junkers Ju 88 66
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The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) 69
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The 'Atta Girls' 71
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'Miss Shilling's Orifice' 74
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'The Hardest Day': Sunday 18 August 1940 78
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Top Guns and Flying Aces: Peterson Clarence Hughes 81
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Top Guns and Flying Aces: Heinrich Bär 86
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Top Guns and Glying Aces: Werner Mölders 88
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The 303 Squadron 91
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Top Guns and Flying Aces: Adolf Galland 94
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The Big Wing Controversy 99
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The Nerve Centre of the No.11 Group 102
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Cotton's Club 104
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Part Four: Rage in the Skies 106
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Göring Hits the Sector Stations 106
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Revenge Attacks 107
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The Blitz Begins: 7 September 110
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The Battle of Britain Movie (1969) 114
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Top Guns and Flying Aces: Adolf 'Sailor' Malan 116
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Top Guns and Flying Aces: Douglas Bader 121
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Battle of Britain Day: 15 September 1940 126
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Conclusion 129
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The Legacy of the Battle of Britain 131
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Index 134
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Acknowledgments 144