Story of the Spitfire: An Operational and Combat History - Couverture rigide

Delve, Ken

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 1036150046 ISBN 13 : 9781036150044

Editeur : Pen & Sword Books Ltd, 2024

Synopsis

"...you'll learn about the design decisions as well as trade-offs. A great deal of thought went into armament..." -Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

To many people the Supermarine Spitfire was Britain's saviour during the Battle of Britain and the embodiment of air combat during the Second World War. The Story of the Spitfire presents a thrilling appraisal of this unique aircraft, focusing on its fighting capability and the tactics of the pilots who flew it. Using official evaluations and reports, alongside technical and tactical developments, plus the recollections of Spitfire pilots, Ken Delve provides a fascinating insight into the combat career of this legendary aircraft.

Despite some problems with their new aircraft, the Fighter Command pilots of 1938 were generally delighted with the Spitfire - speed, manoeuvrability and firepower were all far greater than they had been with the earlier biplanes. In tactics and training the RAF was outdated, but it adapted quickly and the air battles over Britain in late 1940 forged the Spitfire legend. How justified was the legend? There were only nineteen Spitfire squadrons in Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain; it was only later, as the RAF turned to the offensive, that the number of Spitfire units increased dramatically.

At certain times the combat initiative was lost to improved Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Focke-Wulf Fw 190s, but with increased performance and better training, the Spitfire clawed back the advantage. By 1944 the Spitfire was operating as a fighter-bomber in various theatres of war, with new tactics and new problems. Many fighter pilots thought that having bombs strapped under the aircraft verged on an insult - but with aerial targets in short supply, this was the most effective, if risky, way of taking the war to the enemy.

After the war the Spitfire saw action right up to 1948 in the Arab-Israeli War. Today there are approximately seventy airworthy Spitfires in existence and R.J. Mitchell's remarkable aircraft is still the highlight of flying displays around the world.

A propos du livre

À propos de l?auteur

Ken Delve served 20 years in the Royal Air Force as a Navigator and during that time developed his passion for aviation and military history. From researching and publishing the history of his first squadron - 39 Squadron, which had played a major role in defeating Rommel's supply lines - he has subsequently written over 40 books and numerous articles.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
• Date d'édition: 2024
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1036150046
• ISBN 13: 9781036150044
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 272
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible