Military Model Scene

Title: Bf 109E Battle of Britain
Author: Andy Saunders
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-6240-2

This new book is number 12 in the Dogfight series from Osprey, and written by well known author, Andy Saunders. An 80-page soft-cover book, with artwork by Gareth Hector, Tim Brown and Jim Laurier.
The book is split across 6 chapters, looking at Me 109E, firstly In Battle, before another Setting the Scene. It goes on through Path to Combat, as a Weapon of War, then the Art of War and Combat. It isn't a description of the design and development of the 109 (there are plenty of books that already do that) but talks about how the German pilots had learnt their skills in the Spanish Civil War, as well as their then recent victories over Poland and France. They found themselves on the channel coast, ready to face the challenge of the RAF defending the shores of the UK mainland, which also involved the operation of the RDF (Radio Direction Finding) stations, or radar. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of the 109, compared to the Spitfires and Hurricanes they now faced. The fighter units were also directed to be the defensive escorts for the Luftwaffe bombers in their attacks on the UK. Large formations could build up over France, before moving across the English Channel. The short range of the 109 was a factor, so the units found themselves operating from airfields close to the French coast. As well as their escort role, they also operated in pure fighter missions, trying to bring the RAF to battle. Their tactics were different to those of the RAF, who soon learned to adapt to their enemy. As well as the collection of archive photos, the artwork includes ribbon diagrams illustrating the tactics in action and maps. It also includes more interesting material on the advantages of height when action was joined.
The book also includes plenty of individual accounts of various pilots own experiences of combat, both RAF and Luftwaffe pilots. Some of the points do cast a slightly different light on some of the established accounts of the Battle. Despite having been interested in the history of the Battle of Britain for many years, I still found plenty of elements in here that added to some of my own understanding of what happened back in 1940, and how effective the Me 109E was in combat. It is also very much a story of people, both RAF and Luftwaffe pilots in their part in their fight over South East England back in the summer of 1940. Another neat book from Andy Saunders and Osprey.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin