All known combat claims and lossesMany personal accounts and memories of the battleIllustrated with new and rarely seen photographsBrian Cull and Frederick Galea’s definitive Fighters over Malta: Gladiators and Hurricanes 1940-1942 is a highly-detailed account of the gallant band of RAF and Commonwealth pilots who flew in defence of Malta between June 1940 and April 1942, when help in the guise of Spitfires finally arrived.Most of t...

This WWII history recounts how RAF pilots, outgunned by superior Japanese aircraft, nevertheless flew and fought their way to victory.In 1940, the Royal Air Force Purchasing Commission acquired more than 100 Brewster B-339 Buffalo fighter planes from the US. But when the aircraft were deemed below par for service in the UK, the vast majority were diverted for use in the Far East, where it was believed they would be superior to any Japanese aircraft encountered shoul...

10 July, the official first day of the Battle of Britain, witnessed increased aerial activity over the English Channel and along the eastern and southern seaboards of the British coastline. The main assaults by ever-increasing formations of Luftwaffe bombers, escorted by Bf 109 and Bf 110 fighters, were initially aimed at British merchant shipping convoys plying their trade of coal and other materials from the north of England to the southern ports.These attacks often met with incr...

By the end of 1941, following its participation in the Battle of Britain, 249 Squadron was posted to Malta. Having been informed that its pilots would be required to fly from the deck of an aircraft carrier, intensive practice flights took place with two Hurricanes fitted with long-range tanks, making shortened take-off runs from an airfield runway. The following month, having been ferried to Gibraltar, the aircraft were off-loaded on to the Ark Royal and all twenty safely reached Malta – ...

A gripping account of the conflict as it was viewed in 1940-41 by the aircrews of both sides, the press – often for propaganda purposes – and publicOriginal research with extracts from official operations and published memoirsIncludes information extracted from Luftwaffe records regarding claims and losses of German aircraft/aircrewIllustrated with new and rarely seen photographsThe Bristol Blenheim entered Bomber Command service in 1937. ...

The air battle for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete began in June 1940 with the Italian declaration of war. In the past, there has been much controversy amongst air historians on many of the details of the operations. It was here, for example, that "Pat" Pattie believed by many to be the Royal Air Force's "unknown" top-scoring fighter pilot of the whole war, saw most of his action.Just how many kills did he achieve and how?Taken from extensive research into available British, I...

806 Squadron was formed in early 1940 and was equipped with Skuas and Rocs, both outdated as fighters and dive-bombers, the latter hampered by a gunner's turret, and most unsuited for modern warfare. However, 806 was fortunate to have at its head the volatile but skilful and aggressive Lt-Cdr Charles Evans, a 30-year-old born-leader with ten years experience flying with both the RAF and RN. With the aid of his equally experienced Senior Observer, Lt Desmond Vincent-Jones, the young fledgli...

During the Battle of France, the handful of RAF squadrons were heavily engaged. The Luftwaffe commenced raids over England and during July, German aircraft were harrying shipping in the Channel. Many of the RAF aircrews experiencing combat for the first time survived as the ‘first of the few’ to participate in the forthcoming defense of Britain – the Battle of Britain.This volume covers the story of the RAF fighting in France in June 1940; the author’s earlier publication entitled ...