The Luftwaffe Battle of Britain Fighter Pilot’s Kitbag
£14.99
- Soft back
- 137 pages
- 100 illustrations
- Published: 2019
- Author: Mark Hillier
Reichsmarschall Göring told Hitler that it would take less than a month for his much-vaunted Luftwaffe to conquer the RAF and pave the way for the German invasion of Great Britain. His prediction was to prove disastrously wrong, but for four long months his pilots and aircrew fought for their lives in the skies above the UK.
From their bases in continental Europe, the Luftwaffe’s fighter pilots escorted the great bomber fleets that sought to destroy the RAF’s airfields and installations, and tackled the Spitfires and Hurricanes deployed to defend Britain’s towns and cities. Whilst much has been written on the titanic struggle for supremacy fought throughout the summer of 1940 and of the men and machines of both sides, little attention has been paid to what the pilots wore and carried with them in the air.
All the objects that a Luftwaffe fighter pilot was issued with during the Battle of Britain are explored in this book in high-definition colour photographs, showing everything from the differing uniforms, to headgear, personal weapons, gloves, goggles, parachute packs and the essential life jacket. Each item is fully described and its purpose and use explained.
Fly with the Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Bf 110s across the Channel and see what the Luftwaffe aircrew wore as they took on Fighter Command in what was justly called the Battle of Britain
Author Biography
MARK HILLIER is an author and historian, who, as well as being a member of the Royal Historical Society, is a Chartered Surveyor. A qualified pilot, he has flown for more than thirty years. With his main passion being the history of the RFC and RAF, he has researched, written, or co-authored twelve publications; his most recent works include the highly acclaimed Battle of Britain and Royal Flying Corps ‘kitbag’ titles. Mark has contributed to, and assisted on, many other publications and magazine articles. He regularly appears on TV and radio programmes and is a frequent public speaker on aviation related historical subjects. Mark provides curatorial support for aviation museums and advises on items within their collections.
9 in stock (can be backordered)