'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few' - Seventy-five years on the unforgettable words of Winston Churchill ring as powerfully as they did in August 1940 when the young men of the RAF stood as the last line of defence against Hitler's far more powerful Luftwaffe. This emotional yet factual book describes the three and a half months (10 July - 31 October 1940) battle day-by-day and covers the essential details of every one of the 540 young pilots who died in this critical campaign that saved Britain from invasion by the Nazis. Thanks to the authors painstaking research we are given a short biography of each pilots and learn of their actions and the manner of their deaths, their squadrons and planes. The result is a unique record and fitting memorial of the courage and sacrifice of this select band of heroes. The text is enhanced by photographs of the individuals themselves.
Born in 1953, Nigel McCrery served in the Nottinghamshire Constabulary between 1978 and 1987. He then read History at Trinity College, Cambridge and joined the BBC graduate entry course. He has written or been responsible for a number of highly successful BBC series and films including Silent Witness, New Tricks and All The King's Men. Norman Franks is a respected historian and author. Previous titles for Pen and Sword include In the Footsteps of the Red Baron, The Fighting Cocks, RAF Fighter Pilots Over Burma and Dogfight. Franks has published some of the most compelling works on First World War fighter aviation, being one of the world's leading authorities on the subject. In total, he has authored (or co-authored) over 100 publications.