RAF Fighter Command : Defence of The Realm 1936-1945

This book covers the period between the creation in 1936 of Fighter Command and the end of WWII. It purports to demonstrate how a dangerously outmoded structure was transformed through the impetus of a feral aerial conflict into an operational force that effectively challenged and finally helped bring about the Luftwaffe's comprehensive demise.

Royal Air Force Fighter Command's brief was to provide an effective aerial barrier to any attempt at domination of British skies. The aircraft and technical resources on hand between 1936 and WWII's initiation were thankfully improved to a level that was barely sufficient to withstand the hitherto unchallengeable Luftwaffe's advance across Western Europe. Between 1940 and 1942 the Command generally found itself on the back-foot in terms of overall success. The introduction of aircraft designs that would change the situation, however costly, in its ultimate favour, featured prominently from the mid-point of WWII. The Luftwaffe found itself being challenged and regularly bested 'round the clock'; by the advent of D-Day the Command's efforts had materially contributed to the Allied on-surge that had placed its adversary on a permanent downward spiral towards total extinction.