Although there were many more Hawker Hurricanes than Supermarine Spitfires engaged in the epic conflict fought over southern England in summer 1940, the public’s imagination was captured by the shapely and charismatic Spitfire. According to legend, however, the Hurricane executed far greater damage on the enemy than all other defences combined, and was therefore the unsung hero of our ‘Finest Hour’. New research, though, confirms that the Spitfire, although less in number, was in fact supreme, and destroyed an equal number of enemy machines to the more numerous Hurricane force.
Featuring interviews with pilots who flew to war in both Spitfires and Hurricanes, and following a detailed analysis of combat reports and casualty records, Dilip Sarkar shatters the myth and argues a persuasive case proving that the Hurricane was markedly inferior to the Spitfire during the Battle of Britain – which could have been won by Spitfires, but not Hurricanes, alone. A controversial thesis likely to provoke lively debate, the evidence presented by this retired police detective and expert aviation historian is nonetheless indisputable.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fascinated by the Battle of Britain since childhood, since the 1970s Dilip Sarkar has met and interviewed more Battle of Britain pilots than any other historian. He has written over twenty books, titles which include the only biographical works formally endorsed by the families of both Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader and Air Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson. A retired policeman, in 2003 Dilip was made an MBE for services to aviation history, and elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society in 2006. He lives in Worcester.
| Publication: |
November 2010 |
Extent: |
160 pages |
| Availability: |
In stock |
Images Mono: |
40 |
| Format: |
234 x 156 mm |
Images Colour: |
0 |
| Binding: |
Hardback |
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COVER PRICE £ 18.99
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