The Most Dangerous Enemy: The Definitive History of the Battle of Britain

Already hailed as the standard work, The Most Dangerous Enemy is an authoritative history of the British battle that galvanized the public imagination and symbolized the destiny of a nation. But in this rigorous reinvestigation of the Battle of Britain, Stephen Bungay tells a story full of revelations. Whether assessing the development of radar or the relative merits of the Spitfire, Hurricane, and Messerschmitt, he uncovers the unexpected truth behind many time-honored myths. Not only a major work of modern history but also a truly compelling narrative, The Most Dangerous Enemy confirms the Battle of Britain as a crucial event in European history. World War II, WWII, Airplanes, Dogfights, Fighters, Bombers, Military, History, England, Germany Front Cover 1 About the Author 2 Quote 3 Front Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 CONTENTS 7 List of Illustrations 9 Introduction 11 Prologue 15 PART I: BUILD-UP 18 1. THE REASON WHY 19 2. THE THREAT 39 3. THE ASSAILANT 47 4. AIR DEFENCE 67 5. THE FIGHTERS 82 6. THE BOMBERS 99 7. STRENGTH FOR BATTLE 105 8. SEALION 121 9. EAGLE 128 10. THE DEFENDERS 140 PART II: BATTLE 151 11. THE ENEMY AT THE GATE 152 12. THE CHANNEL: JULY 158 13. THE MEN 172 14. THE CHANNEL: AUGUST 198 15. THE NUMBERS GAME 205 16. EAGLE DAY 222 17. THE GREATEST DAY 232 18. THE HARDEST DAY 240 19. THINKING AGAIN 251 20. HUNTERS ANDHUNTED 258 21. TACTICS 268 22. SUMMER'S LEASE 287 23. THE AIRFIELDS 304 24. THE PILOTS 311 25. LONDON 321 26. BATTLE OF BRITAIN DAY 345 27. BLUFFING 364 PART III: AFTERMATH 377 28. FEUDING 378 29. THE SPOILS OF WAR 385 30. APPRAISAL 393 31. MEANINGS 414 Epilogue 425 Postscript 431 Appendix I - LUFTWAFFE ORDER OF BATTLE, 13 AUGUST 1940 433 Appendix II - FIGHTER COMMAND ORDER OF BATTLE, 1 JULY 1940 444 Appendix III - FIGHTER COMMAND ORDER OF BATTLE, 1 SEPTEMBER 1940 448 Sources 452 Acknowledgements 456 Bibliography 458 Notes 466 Rear Cover 506 madmaxau Stephen Bungay's magisterial history is acclaimed as the account of the Battle of Britain. Unrivalled for its synthesis of all previous historical accounts, for the quality of its strategic analysis and its truly compulsive narrative, this is a book ultimately distinguished by its conclusions – that it was the British in the Battle who displayed all the virtues of efficiency, organisation and even ruthlessness we habitually attribute to the Germans, and they who fell short in their amateurism, ill-preparedness, poor engineering and even in their old-fashioned notions of gallantry. An engrossing read for the military scholar and the general reader alike, this is a classic of military history that looks beyond the mythology, to explore all the tragedy and comedy; the brutality and compassion of war. An authoritative history of the British battle that galvanized the public imagination and symbolized the destiny of a nation. But in this rigorous reinvestigation of the Battle of Britain, Stephen Bungay tells a story full of revelations. Whether assessing the development of radar or the relative merits of the Spitfire, Hurricane, and Messerschmitt, he uncovers the unexpected truth behind many time-honored myths. Not only a major work of modern history but also a truly compelling narrative, The Most Dangerous Enemy confirms the Battle of Britain as a crucial event in European history. --publisher Stephen Bungay' s magisterial history is acclaimed as the account of the Battle of Britain.