The Battle of Britain Pocket Manual 1940

Book excerpt: A guide detailing the training and operations for the British pilots, ground crew, and anti-aircraft gunners during the World War II battle. In the summer of 1940, Britain stood alone. For three long months, brave young RAF pilots took off every day, ready to defend British skies against large-scale Luftwaffe raids. “The Few” were young, but they were trained and determined. Eighty years on, the last of the pilots to fly in the Battle of Britain are feted, and their part in World War II is widely remembered. This pocket manual covers the training that these young pilots would have had, and the air combat tactics they were taught to use against the German raiders. It also covers the role of the ground crews, control and command systems, anti-aircraft defenses, and radar and raid detection.