Air Battle for Dunkirk

Description

With the epic blockbuster film Dunkirk, to be released in July 2017, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring, amongst others, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hardy and Mark Rylance, this reissue has never been more timely. 'Where is the RAF?' was the oft-quoted question asked by soldiers waiting on the beach at Dunkirk, to where they had retreated following the German blitzkrieg through northern France, and where they were now being pounded by the Luftwaffe. The air forces were there, as Norman Franks proves, detailing the outstanding achievements of the Allied pilots who fought, using outmoded tactics, against enemy pilots who had earlier had easy victories over the Polish, Dutch and Belgian air forces. The RAF's achievement reminds us just how close Britain came to disaster in June 1940. REVIEWS: 'An absorbing read, which vindicates the RAF' - RAF Historical Journal 'This book reminds us of the debt to those who fought in 1940, and that holding the thin line over Dunkirk directly led to the later victory in the Battle of Britain' - RUSI Journal

Norman Franks is a respected historian and author. Previous titles for Pen and Sword include InThe Footsteps of the Red Baron (co-authored with Mike OConnor), The Fighting Cocks, RAF Fighter Pilots Over Burma, Dogfight, The Fallen Few of the Battle of Britain (with Nigel McCrery) and Dowdings Eagles. Over the course of his career, Frank has published some of the most compelling works on First World War fighter aviation, being one of the worlds leading authorities on the subject. He lives in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex.

"An absorbing read, which vindicates the RAF"-- "RAF Historical Journal" "Leveraging mission logs and splicing firsthand written accounts, the narrative is both cohesive and seamless. The details are incredibly rich, yet not burdensome."-- "Air & Space Power Journal" "With the recent release of the blockbuster film on the same subject, Franks' recounting of the air battle for Dunkirk is timely for those who left the movie theater wanting more... AIR BATTLE FOR DUNKIRK is recommended for those who loved the film and wanted more context. This book is especially recommended for those who are interested in aviation history."--Nicole Granados "Picture This Post"