In the summer of 1940, Britain's fate balanced on a knife-edge. Against the onslaught of the Luftwaffe stood two very different but equally vital machines: the elegant Supermarine Spitfire and the rugged Hawker Hurricane. Together, these fighters bore the weight of Britain's defense during its darkest days, from the fall of France to the Blitz and beyond.
Spitfire and Hurricane: Britain's Twin Lifelines tells the complete story of how these aircraft became symbols of resistance, engineering brilliance, and national pride. From their development and deployment to the personal stories of the men and women who flew, fought, and maintained them, this book explores every dimension of their contribution. It traces their roles in the Battle of Britain, their service abroad, their continued evolution throughout the war, and their enduring legacy in museums, airshows, and collective memory.
This is not simply an account of machines, but of survival: of how the Hurricane and Spitfire together ensured Britain's skies remained free, and how they came to embody the spirit of defiance in a world at war.