Surrey Airfields in the Second World War - Couverture souple

Pilkington, Mr Len

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1853064335 ISBN 13 : 9781853064333

Editeur : Countryside Books, 1997

Synopsis

This book offers a fully illustrated and detailed account of the part played by Surrey's airfields during the Second World War.

The history of each airfield is described, including details about the squadrons and aircraft based at them and the main operations carried out.

The subject is brought vividly to life with evocative accounts, alongside photos of the airmen themselves and their aircraft.

Surrey's proximity to London and to the coast of occupied Europe made it inevitable that it would be in the front line of Britain's defences.

At the height of the war, Surrey had seven major airfields and numerous subsidiary sites. They were involved initially with the defence of London and later with the huge air offensive for the D-Day landings.

Civilians are not forgotten, for this was equally a people's war. The author describes their role as they worked alongside the RAF. Eye witness accounts recall the devastating raid on the Vickers factory in 1940, and the indiscriminate horror of Hitler's V1 and V2 campaign. 

Len Pilkington's action-packed book offers a sharp reminder of the time when Surrey skies were criss-crossed with vapour trails by day, and the dark nights were filled with the boom of guns, the stab of searchlights and the glow of distant fires.

CONTENTS 

• Introduction 
• Map of the Surrey Airfields
• 1. Setting the Scene
• 2. Dunsfold
• 3. Redhill
• 4. Croydon
• 5. Kenley
• 6. Fairoaks
• 7. Gatwick
• 8. Brooklands
• 9. Other Airfields and Sites
• 10. Civilians at War
• Appendix I - Surrey's Tactical Reconnaissance (TacR) squadrons & the North American P.51 fighter
• Appendix II - The Squadrons & Units based at Surrey airfields
• Glossary
• Acknowledgements
• Bibliography
• Index 

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Countryside Books
• Date d'édition: 1997
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1853064335
• ISBN 13: 9781853064333
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 224
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible