The Narrow Margin: The Battle of Britain and the Rise of Air Power, 1930 - 1940.

Tri-Service Press, (1990). Quarto, blue boards (hardcover), gilt letters, 384 pp. Bookplate; otherwise, Fine in a Fine dust jacket. *This large volume will require additional postage fees for overseas or Priority orders. From dust jacket: In today’s climate of European unity it is hard to recall that fifty years ago the pilots of Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe were locked in a fight to the death, with the control of Britain, and perhaps the fate of the free world, hanging on the outcome. In the immortal words of Winston Churchill, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” The 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain will be commemorated throughout the UK from June to September 1990, with massive press and publicity coverage of an exciting programme that includes may staged events and flying displays. For those who want to understand exactly what the summer of 1940 was like for the people of Britain, no other book than this one will fit the bill. Although out of print for over twenty yeasr, The Narrow Margin has remained the classic work of reference for serious students of those sixteen historic weeks and is still used for teaching officers at RAF Cranwell. This new edition has been re-set and re-designed, making dramatic use of its 200 photographs and 30 maps and other illustrations. The book examines in detail the background and planning of the R.A.F. and the Luftwaffe, and the march of events in both Britain and Germany during the pre-war years and the ‘phoney war.’ But its unique feature is its diary section which explains day-by-day what was happening around the country. This day-by-day chronology describes what it was actually like to live through those months, skillfully interweaving weather reports and personal recollections of those who took part in the Battle with extracts from official documents, both British and German, and combining these with photographs and diagrams which illustrate each day’s entry. Reinforcing The Narrow Margin’s authority and vividness are its comprehensive array of appendices, detailing, amongst other things, the performance of both sides’ aircraft; the organisation and disposition of RAF Fighter Command; the Luftwaffe order of battle in the West; casualties and losses for both sides; a glossary of German operational commands; and a complete list of the names and squadrons of all aircrew who fought under Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain.