Spitfire Faces (ePub)
The Men and Women Behind the Iconic Fighter
Imprint: Air World
File Size: 75.6 MB (.epub)
ISBN: 9781399065337
Published: 30th March 2023
Other formats available - Buy the Hardback and get the eBook for £1.99! | Price |
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Spitfire Faces Hardback Add to Basket | £16.50 |
The Supermarine Spitfire arguably remains the most iconic fighter aircraft ever produced. Unsurprisingly, it has become a symbol of British excellence and national pride.
Interest in the Spitfire remains undiminished as time goes on, and its bibliography is virtually infinite. Whilst many of these books feature the technical and operational history of the Spitfire, this book features the human element of the story, concentrating on the stories of not only those who flew the Spitfire into battle, but also the men and women who maintained and built it.
By the summer of 1941, the Spitfire had replaced the Hurricane as the RAF’s front-line fighter, seeing service in every theatre of war, from north-west Europe to the Far East, and operating in many roles never envisaged by its gifted, yet tragic, designer, R.J. Mitchell. Although intended as a short-range daylight interceptor, Spitfires became dive-bombers, offensive escort fighters, night-fighters, photographic reconnaissance mounts – and more.
R.J. Mitchell, however, was always very conscious that a human being would risk his or her life flying his creation – and this book concentrates on that human story.
Covering the Spitfire’s design, development and wartime operational history, Spitfire Faces features photographs from the personal collections of survivors, collated as the result of the author’s close personal relationships and friendships with so many of them.
‘Dilip, like you, I grew up reading about the Aces and the well-known figures of Fighter Command; I really enjoy reading about the others, the less well-known, the support staff/ground crew, ATA etc. The recent crop of books you've published all address this very well - as do so many of your previous works ! It's an excellent work alongside "Spitfire Down" and "Forgotten Heroes of The Battle of Britain".
Squadron Leader Jon Rooke RAF
I was showing Vicki the book and commenting on the relevance and links between many of the subjects which makes for a pleasant flowing style through the book’.
As featured in
The Bookseller, Jan 23
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.