AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE RAF BATTLE OF BRITAIN 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE EDITION.

To produce any history of the Royal Air Force is a daunting task, but to compile such a comprehensive, fully-illustrated edition as this is surely an achievement that few, if any, previous books have been able to match. From the early days of balloons and experimental flying machines, through two world wars; international incidents from the 'Cold War' to the Falklands campaign and beyond, this outstanding volume, two years in the making, follows the development of the Royal Air Force right up tot he present day. The immensely readable text by Roy Conyers Nesbit, who flew forty-nine operational sorties during World War II, is accompanied by over 600 black and white and full-colour photographs and illustrations, many of which have never previously been published in book form. Each photograph is complemented by a fully-detailed caption to create a fascinating and absorbing volume containing a veritable wealth of information that makes "An Illustrated History of the RAF" exciting and essential reading for historians, aviation enthusiasts and plane spotters alike, and admirably fulfils its primary purpose: to serve as a tribute to the many gallant airmen who offered, and so often gave, their lives for their country and its people. Contents: 1. Waiting for Wings; 2. The First War in the Air; 3. Trenchard in the Twenties; 4. Prelude to War; 5. The Phoney War; 6. The Battles of Norway, France and Britain; 7. The Turn of the Tide; 8. Reaping the Whirlwind; 9. The Atlantic and Home Waters; 10. North Africa, Malta and Italy; 11. D-Day to VE-Day; 12. The Forgotten Air War; 13. The Cold War; 14. Maritime and Transport; 15. On World Service; 16. The Falklands; 17. Training and Support; 18. RAF in the Nineties; Index of Illustrations