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Battle of Britain Target London (Hardback)

7 September 1940 – 17 September 1940 (Volume 5)

Aviation > Pilots P&S History > British History P&S History > By Century > 20th Century WWII World History > UK & Ireland > England > London

By Dilip Sarkar MBE FRHistS FRAeS
Imprint: Air World
Pages: 272
Illustrations: 32 mono illustrations
ISBN: 9781399058018
Published: 13th December 2024

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In this unprecedented series exploring the big story of the Battle of Britain, renowned historian Dilip Sarkar investigates the wider context and intimate details of the epic aerial conflict in the summer of 1940 from all sides. In so doing, he gives due acknowledgement to the roles of Bomber and Coastal Commands in addition to the fabled Few of Fighter Command.

This unique narrative draws upon a lifetime of research, the author having enjoyed a long relationship with survivors and the relatives of casualties; his innumerable interviews and first-hand accounts collated, in addition to privileged access to personal papers, providing essential human interest to this inspirational story.

In this the fifth volume, Battle of Britain: Target London, Dilip continues to examine the fighting on a day-by-day, combat-by-combat basis from 7 September to 17 September 1940. It was on 7 September that the Luftwaffe changed tack, and instead of continuing its successful strikes on 11 Group and its airfields, switched its focus to the round-the-clock bombing of London. According to popular narrative, this move lost the Germans the Battle of Britain, providing Fighter Command an opportunity to recover. This, however, is not necessarily the opinion of certain German scholars – all of which is explored by the author.

The events of 7 September also saw the 12 Group Duxford Wing go into action for the first time, the effects of which are analysed. This review confirms that the formation massively over claimed and was not, therefore, as successful as believed at the time by certain senior commanders and politicians. Likewise, the events of 15 September 1940, long accepted as ‘Battle of Britain Day’, are often stated to represent a great turning point in the aerial fighting of the summer of 1940 – but is this correct? Two days later, Hitler postponed Operation Sealion, the invasion of the United Kingdom, indefinitely. Could, therefore, this day be considered the date the Battle of Britain really ended?

Through diligent research, combined with crucial official primary sources and personal papers, Dilip unravels many myths, often challenging the accepted narrative. This is not simply another dull record of combat losses and claims – far from it. Drawing upon unique first-hand accounts from a wide-range of combatants and eyewitnesses, along with Daily Home Intelligence Reports and numerous other primary sources, this book forms part of what is likely to be the first and last such comprehensively woven account of this epic air battle.

“If you want a day-by-day, mission-by-mission, and virtually every combat-by-combat account, of the Battle of Britain, here's your book…”

Read the full review here

Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

Pilot Editor's Pick

"This latest volume in a series already reviewed and highly praised in Pilot both confirms that author Dilip Sarkar's energy as a writer and diligence as an analysist and historian continues undimmed...such is the level of insight offered in volume 5 that you, like this reviewer, will inevitably want to have the four previous volumes to hand - and be keeping an eye out for the next."

Pilot Magazine - April 2025
 Dilip Sarkar MBE FRHistS FRAeS

About Dilip Sarkar MBE FRHistS FRAeS

DILIP SARKAR is a prolific author and historian, with over 60 books to his name, and is an internationally recognised authority on the Battle of Britain; he is author of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust and National Memorial to The Few’s eight volume, one-million-word, official history of the Battle of Britain, a unique project endorsed by, amongst others, The Princess Royal and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton. Having enjoyed a uniquely personal relationship with many of The Few, Dilip is a much sought after and engaging speaker, who has spoken and exhibited internationally in addition to working on numerous television and film projects, both on and off camera. Made an MBE for services to aviation history in 2003, he was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society, and to the Fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 2024, and is Honorary Vice-President of The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust CIO. For further information please see www.dilipsarkarmbe.com.

Perfect Partner

Battle of Britain Daylight Defeat 18 September 1940 - 30 September 1940 (Hardback)

In this, the sixth of Dilip Sarkar’s unprecedented eight-volume series, the day-by-day events occurring in the fourth phase of the Battle of Britain are chronicled and set within a much wide context, including the operations of Bomber and Coastal Commands and the Home Front. Renowned for his evidence-based approach, the author has returned to primary sources, the analysis arising often challenging our previous understanding and the popular narrative. In Volume 5, Target London: 7 September 1940 – 17 September 1940, the beginning of the Blitz was explored at length. This illuminated the inescapable…

By Dilip Sarkar MBE FRHistS FRAeS

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