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#2449812 - 02/16/08 03:03 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Frantishek]  
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What about War and Peace?

Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)

#2487627 - 04/04/08 07:45 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Ming_EAF19]  
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Just added this reading advice to the 1C site after reading the book last week:

Hi!

If you haven't read it, I can really recommend Richard Hillary's "The Last Enemy". Written by one of the Spitfire pilots that fought the Battle of Britain. It was written in 1941-1942 when Richard Hillary was recovering from the burn injuries he received after getting shot down during the battle. After he recovered he was put back in active duty and died on a mission in early 1943.

The interesting thing is that the book is written during the war, right after the battle. Hillary's memories are therefore very clear - and not colored by the analysis after the war...

Read it to get an exellent glimpse of what it was really like - from the training to the actual battle. In Hillary's division (603) that moved down to southern England from Scotland during the battle 8 out of 24 pilots survived the battle. How many that survived the war is not mentioned in the book as the war was still raging when it was written...

Regards /Mazex

#2574160 - 08/24/08 07:34 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Viking-S]  
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Toonsis Offline
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Are there any B.O.B. books written from zee German's side of the action ?

#2575458 - 08/26/08 10:40 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Toonsis]  
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Boom Offline
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 Originally Posted By: Toonsis
Are there any B.O.B. books written from zee German's side of the action ?


Here are a few.

SPITFIRE ON MY TAIL, by Ulrich Steinhilper.
LUFTWAFFE FIGHTERS' BATTLE OF BRITAIN : The Inside Story - July to October 1940. By Chris Goss
LUFTWAFFE IN THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN. By Armand Van Ishoven
LUFTSTRID OVER KANALEN. By Christer Bergstrom
A LUFTWAFFE BOMBER PILOT REMEMBERS. By Klaus Haberlen
THE LUFTWAFFE BOMBERS' BATTLE OF BRITAIN: The Inside Story - July to October 1940. By Chris Goss
BOMBER UNITS OF THE LUFTWAFFE 1933-1945 Vol.1 & 2. By Henry L. de Zeng IV and Douglas G. Stankey
9 STAFFEL/JAGDGESCHWADER 26: THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN PHOTO ALBUM OF LUFTWAFFE BF 109 PILOT WILLY FRONHOFER. By John Vasco
BOMBSIGHTS OVER ENGLAND: Erprobungsgruppe 210 Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. By John Vasco
ZERSTORER: The Me110 and its Units in 1940. By John Vasco


"Somewhere out there is page 6!"
"But Emillo you promised ....... it's postpone"
ASWWIAH Member
#2578475 - 09/01/08 02:05 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Boom]  
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Fantastic, much thanks Pips.

#2593719 - 09/25/08 08:43 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Toonsis]  
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Steve Day Offline
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A couple more German ones:

The Luftwaffe War Diaries - Cajus Bekker
JG26 War diary volume 1 - Donald Caldwell
The First and the Last : Adolf Galland

a couple of lesser known British ones:

Battle for Britain: Wing Commander H.R. Allen (autobiography)
Who Won the Battle of Britain: H.R. Allen (historical)

and one thrown in just for its novelty value:

Flying Fever : Air Vice Marshall S.F. Vincent
(this chap who u probably never even heard of was the only allied pilot officially credited with air victories whilst flying single seat fighters in BOTH world wars. he was station commander Northholt during the BoB)

Steve

#2633352 - 12/13/08 08:25 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Steve Day]  
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Kurfürst Offline
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Messerschmitt Bf 109 performance trials and tactical evaluations.

Kurfurst - The Messerschmitt Bf 109 Performance Resource Site

Currently it has dozens of performance tests, French, British, German, Finnish tactical trials relating to the Bf 109 and detailed information on the Messerschmitt's powerplants, like ratings, clearances etc. The site gets updated regularly.

Table of Contents

* I. Messerschmitt Bf 109 related Tactical & Technical Trials.
o Bf 109 E
o Bf 109 F
o Bf 109 G

* II. Messerschmitt Bf 109 related Performance Trials.
o Bf 109 B, C, D
o Bf 109 E
o Bf 109 F
o Bf 109 G
o Bf 109 K

* III. Messerschmitt Bf 109 Technology.
o Bf 109 Powerplants

* IV. Messerschmitt Bf 109 Operations,
o Deployment

Last edited by Kurfürst; 12/13/08 08:27 PM.

http://kurfurst.org
Kurfürst - The Messerschmitt Bf 109 Performance Resource Site.
Compilation of Bf 109E, F, G, K, DB 601/605 and related documents.
#2645718 - 01/03/09 05:38 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Brigstock]  
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[quote=Brigstock]"First Light" Geoffrey Wellum 'ISBN 0-670-91248-4'
Geoff's recount of his experience in 92 Squadron during the Battle of Britain is a good read.


Read this last year. Without doubt one of the best wartime recollections I have ever read. It really is in the 'Can't put down' category.

Highly reommended.

Paul


Not by Strength, by guile
#2645724 - 01/03/09 05:44 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: *Buzzsaw*]  
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Originally Posted By: *Buzzsaw*
Salute

Actually, while the Battle of Britain, which was an aerial engagement, was won by the RAF, the existence of the British Navy was at least as important to the fact the Germans could not invade as the presence of the RAF in the skies.

Because the Royal Navy outnumbered and dominated the German navy so thoroughly, in order to have a successful invasion, the Germans needed COMPLETE Air Superiority. The British merely needed a contested air space for their Navy to be able to operate, albeit with considerable loss, against an invasion.

For example, while the Germans had an overall air superiority during the Dunkirk evacuation, the RAF was able to contest control enough so that the Royal Navy could come in and evacuate the BEF. Losses were heavy in ships, but the job was done.

If the Germans had launched their invasion in September 1940, they would not have been able to prevent the Royal Navy from entering the Channel and sinking the majority of the German transports and supporting Naval elements. The losses to the Royal Navy would be high, but considering the alternative was the overrunning of the British homeland, it would be acceptable.

The Royal Navy never participated except in a peripheral way in the Battle of Britain, but when Hitler, the Werhmacht, the Kriegsmarine, and the Luftwaffe, planned their operations, it was the shadow in the corner of the room, the proverbial 1000 lb Gorilla.


Good points. One might even suggest that the efforts by the RN during the German invasion of Norway reduced the offensive capacity of the Kreigsmarine to such a degree that a seaborne invasion of Britain became impossible without domination of the air. A tactical victory in Norway eventually became a strategic defeat... and vice versa for the British.

Cheers

Paul


Not by Strength, by guile
#3003614 - 04/30/10 04:06 AM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Capt_Hurricane]  
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Aullido Offline
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Originally Posted By: Capt_Hurricane


Good points. One might even suggest that the efforts by the RN during the German invasion of Norway reduced the offensive capacity of the Kreigsmarine to such a degree that a seaborne invasion of Britain became impossible without domination of the air. A tactical victory in Norway eventually became a strategic defeat... and vice versa for the British.

Cheers

Paul


IIRC Norway was a vital objective for Germany, all his steel came from there.

#3016111 - 05/21/10 08:19 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Aullido]  
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sascha Offline
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Quote:
Are there any B.O.B. books written from zee German's side of the action ?


"Feindberührung" by Julius Meimberg.

http://www.neunundzwanzigsechs.de/main.php?page=11

Click on "Julius Meimberg" on the left side of the page and then on the Union Jack at the bottom of the page for a synopsis in English.

The book's all in German I'm afraid, but it has some excellent, first-hand accounts of an LW-pilot who flew during the entire war: Western front, Africa and Reichsverteidigung IIRC. The BoB is discussed pretty thoroughly in this book.



I also have Günther Rall's "Mein Flugbuch" from the same publisher - also highly recommended.


S.



Last edited by sascha; 05/21/10 08:23 PM.

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#3021536 - 05/30/10 07:52 AM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: sascha]  
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Runyan99 Offline
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The previously mentioned "First Light" by Wellum is the best pilot memoir I have come across yet, and I am in the process of reading them all.

#3049034 - 07/10/10 09:55 AM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Viking-S]  
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sharpe26 Offline
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The most dangerous enemy by Stephen Bungay.

Spitfire, potrait of a legend by Leo Mckinstry

Hurricane the last witnesses by Brian Milton

Forgotten voices of the Blitz and the Battle of Britain by Joshua Levine. this one contains a collection of quotes and stories of people in Britain that experienced the BOB. Quite harrowing at times.


I'm a crappy pilot, but one hell of a shot.
#3051823 - 07/14/10 06:57 AM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: sharpe26]  
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imaca Offline
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Someone probably already mentioned this:


http://www.flightglobal.com/sitemap/default.aspx

This archive of Flight magazine (1909-2004) has lots of interesting and informative articles, photos and drawings.
For example there are fairly in-depth looks at German aircraft going through details of structural design etc. including 3D cutaways.
It's fascinating reading articles written as perceived at the time.
Quite often opinions of aircraft are influenced by propaganda, example: in January 1942 they make first mention of the FW190, saying it doesn't really measure up to the Hurricane or Spitfire.
An otherwise excellent article on the Short Stirling lists maximum speed as "around" 300mph (I guess around means +/- 50mph)

Last edited by imaca; 07/14/10 06:58 AM.
#3224921 - 03/05/11 05:01 AM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Viking-S]  
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I am almost done with First Light and it's fantastic.

#3233275 - 03/13/11 03:36 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: imaca]  
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Tamat Offline
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that is really interesting, thanks

#3234428 - 03/14/11 11:39 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Viking-S]  
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Last edited by Hackl; 03/15/11 05:04 AM.
#3234599 - 03/15/11 04:29 AM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Viking-S]  
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Good stuff Hackl. smile


Wheels


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Planes of Fame Air Museum | March Field Air Museum | Palm Springs Air Museum
#3245564 - 03/25/11 05:37 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Viking-S]  
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#3248374 - 03/27/11 08:24 PM Re: Cliffs of Dover Essential Reading [Re: Viking-S]  
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I'm a crappy pilot, but one hell of a shot.
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