With Wings Like Eagles
A History of the Battle of Britain
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4.3 • 81 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
“[With Wings Like Eagles is] bold and refreshing… Korda writes with great elegance and flair.”—Wall Street Journal
From the New York Times bestselling author of Ike and Horse People, Michael Korda, comes With Wings Like Eagles, the harrowing story of The Battle of Britain, one of the most important battles of World War II. In the words of the Washington Post Book World, “With Wings Like Eagles is a skillful, absorbing, often moving contribution to the popular understanding of one of the few episodes in history … to deserve the description ‘heroic.’”
In the summer of 1940, the fate of the free world rested on the shoulders of fewer than 2,000 young fighter pilots—and the innovative, desperate strategy that kept them in the air.
RAF vs. Luftwaffe: A gripping day-by-day account of how the Royal Air Force held off the might of the German air force against overwhelming odds.Air Warfare Strategy: The untold story of Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, the architect of Britain’s victory, and his revolutionary system combining radar intelligence with centralized fighter control.Spitfire and Hurricane: A deep dive into the legendary aircraft that became symbols of defiance, and the pilots who flew them into history against the formidable Bf 109.Winston Churchill's Leadership: Discover the crucial role of the prime minister in steeling Britain’s resolve to fight on alone, chronicled through his powerful speeches and private struggles.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The Battle of Britain has become as much myth as history. Korda (Ulysses S. Grant), former editor-in-chief of Simon & Schuster, gives its story fresh life with the expertise of an established popular historian and the polish of a master narrator. In the summer of 1940, Britain stood alone against the Third Reich, which had quickly overrun Western Europe and seemed poised to finish the job. All that blocked the Nazis were a couple of thousand fighter pilots and their commander, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, the story's hero. Dowding fought to build Spitfires and Hurricanes, and trained men to fly them. He set up the radar system and the observer networks that kept watch for German raids. In the face of initial defeats, he husbanded his resources for a greater battle he knew would come. Korda is no triumphalist, demonstrating the mistakes, misunderstandings and simple cussedness that threatened the chances for a British victory. But Dowding's Brylcreem Boys, nicknamed for their favorite styling gel, succeeded against an enemy no less brave and skilled. 7 pages of color and 16 pages of b&w photos.
Customer Reviews
How close was it?
History teaches us that Britain was on the ropes with Nazi Germany.
Unless you have studied much beyond the “Wikipedia” level of discussion - do you know how close Britain came to the end?
Enjoyed
I enjoyed the book. I felt it read well for a history book.
With Wings Like Eagles
Very readable book regarding the Battle of Britain and the events surrounding. Includes personable accounts of the training and experience of novice fighters, along with the perspectives of the military leaders. Valuable from an historic interest perspective, and also entertaining.