New Battle of Britain Books And Your Collection

An excellent collection, Nick.

The one book I've never got round to reading is 'The Last Enemy'. Is it as good as they say, Nick?

Craig

It's been a while since I read it but from what I remember I would say it has to be one of the best.

Here's a taster..

 

Craig

It's been a while since I read it but from what I remember I would say it has to be one of the best.

Here's a taster..

Thanks Nick. One more book to order then. Doh.

 

Gage
Add to the list the following:-
First and Last Adolph Galland
Duel of Eagles Peter Townsend, ( Duel in the Dark also by Townsend is worth reading as well)
Spitfire Brian Lane
One of the Few Johnny A Kent
Ginger Lacey Fighter Pilot, Bickers.
Fly for your Life (Stanford-Tuck) Larry Forrester
Douglas Bader there are numerous books written about him I tend to ignore them as I find he is a egotistical person although a great insperation to many.

If you really want to go deep then look at the Squadron Histories and also the Auxilery Air Force history.

 

Gage
Add to the list the following:-
First and Last Adolph Galland
Duel of Eagles Peter Townsend, ( Duel in the Dark also by Townsend is worth reading as well)
Spitfire Brian Lane
One of the Few Johnny A Kent
Ginger Lacey Fighter Pilot, Bickers.
Fly for your Life (Stanford-Tuck) Larry Forrester
Douglas Bader there are numerous books written about him I tend to ignore them as I find he is a egotistical person although a great insperation to many.

If you really want to go deep then look at the Squadron Histories and also the Auxilery Air Force history.

I've read Galland's book a long time ago. Would like to read Johnny Kent's and Ginger Lacey's.

I totally agree about Douglas Bader.

 

I totally agree about Douglas Bader.

So do I..

 

I got Richard Overy - The Battle of Britain Experience from E-bay and its a very well presented book with some nice touches.
I always wanted to get it but thought I would wait for a good price.

 

52nd Airboprne
One book I'm surprised at not being re-released is Kenneth G Wynn book Men of the battle of Britian. It's an absolute must in anyones collection.

A very good reference tool.
I must admit I have only a few books which relate to the BoB and there are many more here who have a much better insight into the Battle than I have.
My own would be
"The Hardest day"
"Men of The Battle of Britain" (K Wynn)
" The Battle of Britain Then and Noqw" ( ATB)
"The Blitz Volumes from ATB which relate to the Summer/Winter of 1940.
"A Harvest of Messerschmitts" ( Got this way back when God was young and I had hair !)
Richard Colliers "Eagle Day".

Apart from "Spitfire on my Tail" can anyone recommend anything which may have been written from the Luftwaffe point of view ?

 

An excellent collection, Nick.

The one book I've never got round to reading is 'The Last Enemy'. Is it as good as they say, Nick?

Strangely but definitely this is the very first book I read on the BoB and it made a deep impression on me. It is a brilliantly written BoB memoir that stands out by bringing the deep philosophical perspective. It raises the big questions about life, choices and sacrifices and is painfully honest, beautiful as well as very sad.
Very definitely recommended.

 

I've read Galland's book a long time ago. Would like to read Johnny Kent's and Ginger Lacey's.

If there is one of the chain of Book Depot stores near you then you will find the Johnny Kent book there for £2. I was in the Bolton branch this morning having a look at it!

 

Can you recommend any Autobios I might not have read which are good?

There is a good chance you may have got it by now but I would recommend Gun Button to Fire by Tom Neil.

 

Strangely but definitely this is the very first book I read on the BoB and it made a deep impression on me. It is a brilliantly written BoB memoir that stands out by bringing the deep philosophical perspective. It raises the big questions about life, choices and sacrifices and is painfully honest, beautiful as well as very sad.
Very definitely recommended.

Still haven't got a copy but thanks for the snap review, SB.

There is a good chance you may have got it by now but I would recommend Gun Button to Fire by Tom Neil.

Still a book I haven't got but is on the list. Maybe on my visit to Waterstones this week.....

 

As for James Hollands Book The Battle of Britain after reading Tom Cannings view of his book on Italy I am not sure if its one to get.

Could you please point me at the review? I have just bought the book and would like to know what people think of it.

Thanks in advance.

 

First and Last Adolph Galland
One of the Few Johnny A Kent
Ginger Lacey Fighter Pilot, Bickers.


Got these in the last week or so from E-bay.

 

Gun Button to Fire by Tom Neil now added.

 

I've also read "The Last Enemy" - a fantastic book, as already mentioned.
I have "Bader-The Man and His Men" Michael G. Burns (ISBN 0-304-35052-4).
Starts off rather well, then unfortunately tends to get a little 'dry' towards the end. It also covers other theatres of war, so not really purely BoB.
Michael

 

I've got quite a few:
Battle of Britain and Fighter Boys - Patrick Bishop
Reach For The Sky - Brickhill
The Big Show - Closterman
Battle of Britain - Deighton
First Light - Geoffrey Wellum (a must read)
Bader - Michael Burns
Fighter Pilot - Paul Richey. Well worth a read if you're interested in the Battle of France in 1940.
Plus quite a few more that I can't remember off the top of my head. I do want to read James Hollands' book on the BoB. It looks impressive

Edit: The Last Enemy - Hillary and First and Last - Galland. Now problem with Galland, same as Bader, arrogant. But for all their faults, inspirational

 

Another set of books I've got is Ulrich Steinhilper's war trilogy:
Spitfire on my tail, Ten minutes to Buffalo and Full Circle. Have them all in HB and signed by the man himself. Met him at Biggin a few years ago. Nice chap though but with that characteristic German demeanour. If you know what I mean? Like most Germans, he had been force-fed and found we were rather different to what he was told.

 

Have you read 'A Summer Bright and Beautiful' by David E. Fisher? More about the technical aspects of radar and how it was used during the Battle, but even a dumb layman like yours truly could follow and get something interesting and enjoyable out of it.

On a slightly different matter, I just discovered that Stanford-Tuck was born Jewish. Don't know whether he practiced the religion of his parents, but I found it quite surprising (given the name). I wonder if he and my Dad ever discussed it as POWs...somehow I doubt it.

Marc

 

There is a good chance you may have got it by now but I would recommend Gun Button to Fire by Tom Neil.

I read a few weeks ago and thought it was excellent.

 

Hello,
I have quite a large collection of Battle of Britain autobiographies, as my personal interest lies with individuals rather than battles as a whole. I agree that Tom Neils is amongst the best. I had the pleasure of hearing him do a talk at SWA Fineart last year, and met him afterwards. He was in the battle from start to finish, only being shot down once, so believes very few (if any) pilots did more sorties than him during the battle. (No doubt somebody on here will have some stats on this!)
Just to throw in my opinion about The Last Enemy, I remember being underwhelmed by this, but then I was a teenager when I read it, so was looking more for action. I might read it again from the lofty heights of my 29 years, and see if my opinion changes!