Tony Holmes

The Hawker Hurricane was the RAF's first monoplane fighter, and it dragged the air force into a position where it could defend Britain in its "hour of need." Prior to the Battle of Britain, a number of squadrons equipped with the fighter had seen action firstly in the "Phoney War," and then during the disastrous campaign in France. Pilots like "Cobber" Kain had achieved impressive scores in the face of overwhelming Luftwaffe forces, and although the RAF lost no less than 386 Hurricanes during the Blitzkrieg, it gave many pilots valuable experience. Hawker fighters outnumbered Spitfires during the Battle of Britain by three to one, and downed far more aircraft. Overseas, a handful of pilots put up stiff resistance against Germany's Italian ally in Libya and Egypt, and also over Malta.… (more)

About the only reason why I don't give this booklet another half star is that it is over twenty years old and the topic could probably stand to be revisited. On the other hand, actual journalism apparently went in to this work and it partakes of secondary sources that are probably none-to-available at this stage of the game. This is not to mention one gets some sense of the impact on British air defense as the cadre of pre-war pilots was ground down and new trainees and refugee pilots were thrown into the meat grinder. There's a reason why "The Few" are venerated. In short, still worth reading.… (more)