The RAF in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain: A Reappraisal of Army and Air Policy 1938-1940

by Greg Baughen

Overview

In May 1940, the German Army and the Allied forces they faced were fairly evenly matched. Two months later Britain was on her own, hopelessly outnumbered and facing imminent defeat. Should the RAF have done more to support the Allied armies in France? Could the RAF have protected the British Army better at Dunkirk? How narrow was the margin of victory in the Battle of Britain? Was the RAF ready to deal with an invasion? Why were hundreds of American combat planes and experienced Polish and Czech pilots never used? All these questions and more are answered in Greg Baughen's third book in the series. Baughen describes the furious battles between the RAF and the Luftwaffe and the equally bitter struggle between the Air Ministry and the War Office- and explains how close Britain really came to defeat in the summer of 1940.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781781555255
Publisher:	Fonthill Media
Publication date:	11/24/2016
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Greg Baughen was educated at Sussex University where he obtained a degree in Mathematics. In a varied teaching career, he has taught Maths and English as a Foreign Language, to children and adults, in Britain and abroad. His interest in military aviation was sparked at a very early age by curiosity over the defeat of British and French air forces in the Battle of France in 1940. For forty years, he has delved though public archives in Britain and France seeking explanations. The quest has taken him back to the origins of air power in both countries and forwards to what might have been in the Cold War. He then set to work writing a definitive history of air power in both countries.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 5

Introduction 9

1 Armies, Air Defence, or Bombers? 11

2 The Army Gets the Call 32

3 The Lessons of War 49

4 The Bomber Reigns Supreme 65

5 Norwegian Warning 83

6 The Dutch Abandoned 96

7 Sedan: A Lesson in Army Air Support 109

8 The Gloves Are Off: The RAF Strikes Back 119

9 Relearning Old Lessons 129

10 Desperate Measures: Wasted Resources 155

11 Preparing for Invasion 171

12 Dowding's Battle 183

13 On the Brink? 202

14 Bomber Theory Put to the Test 216

Conclusion 232

Endnotes 235

Appendix I Aircraft Performance 256

Appendix II Aircraft Deliveries 1938-40 261

Bibliography 264

Index 267

Editorial Reviews

An interesting account of a period in the war that is well known, but which tackles aspects of it which are far less well known... intriguing... an interesting take on the whole topic.”

Military Model Scene

This really an amazing and detailed publication of the perilous time the RAF and the English people faced during 1940… This is an excellent work of history. For those aircraft and history buffs interested in the early part of World War II air battles this book will offer a wealth of information. It was extremely interesting to read about the various theories of combating Nazi aggression early in the war. I recommend this book as a very enjoyable and informative read.

IPMS/USA