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

by Richard Hough and Denis Richards

Book Overview

An unsentimental and unaffected account of how the outnumbered RAF fought the Luftwaffe to a standstill during the summer and early autumn of 1940 ...A wide-ranging, painstakingly documented and comprehensive appreciation of a turning-point engagement. Kirkus Reviews. Forty pages of photographs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393307344
• ISBN13: 9780393307344
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 472 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

The Battle of Britain

Comprehensive and factual. Well worth the read. Informative for us on this side of the pond. Great admiration for the Brits last ditch stand.

A first-rate, fitting tribute to "The Few"

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.

Exactly as I remember it as a boy in an air raid shelter.

I remember the events leading up to the Battle and the Battle itself as a boy. This book tells it as it really was, thrilling, terrifying, awesome; but something that we adjusted to on a daily basis. It presents many of the behind the scenes events that could not be revealed to the general population at the time for security reasons that now tells the "rest of the story". Also, it points out what might have happened if events had been different. Crucial to understanding the significance of the Battle of Britain. It was a priveledge to have witnessed the struggle and the sacrifice of a people who stood up when it counted. This book needed to tell the story.

A masterful account of the Battle of Britain

Truly insightful and educational.

Wonderfull documentation of the Battle of Britian.

The "Battle of Britian" by Richard Hough and Dennis Richards, is a wonderful book of history. It is packed with pictures that correspond with the section that was just read. A instresting addition is the background of the authors, they were both involved in the whole process. Hough was a flew fighter planes in 1941. This is the best account of any battle I have ever read