Dark Horse
06-02-2012, 03:03
Submit a Book ReviewBook Title:
Eagles High: The Battle of Britain - 50th Anniversary Author:
Peter North ISBN:
0 85052 889 5 Category:
History Format:
Hardback Summary:
This is an unusual book in that it is really a showcase of the author’s artwork, which is quite atmospheric. The attached scan of the front cover gives you a good example of the quality and style of the illustrations.
The chapters each consist of a 2 page spread with titles like “The Phoney War”, “Adlertag”, “London takes It” and “In the Dark” (night fighters). Each spread is made up of a painting plus writing. The writing briefly describes the events of the subject “chapter” with usually other stuff included as well, for example aircraft stats, events by date, maps, a few biographies , cut-a-way labelled paintings of aircraft, aircraft tactics & weaponry etc. it gives quite a bit of background information overall and although it lacks detail because of the 2 page chapter format, it gives a good start to build on if you want to do further research.
There is an interesting air battle briefly described on page 114 in the chapter “The Chianti Party”. On 11th November, radar notified Fighter Command of incoming aircraft. They scrambled 2 Hurricane squadrons which found themselves confronted by aircraft of the Regia Aeronautica: 10 BR.20 bombers escorted by 40 CR.42 biplanes. Within minutes, 12 Italian aircraft were shot down for no Hurricane losses. The author comments “Belatedly the Italians had learnt a lesson that their Luftwaffe friends ought to have shared: daylight bombing raids over Britain were suicidal.”
The book does not really offer anything new, but provides a nice and colourful atmosphere that could provide some inspiration for getting the toys onto the table.
Eagles High: The Battle of Britain - 50th Anniversary Author:
Peter North ISBN:
0 85052 889 5 Category:
History Format:
Hardback Summary:
This is an unusual book in that it is really a showcase of the author’s artwork, which is quite atmospheric. The attached scan of the front cover gives you a good example of the quality and style of the illustrations.
The chapters each consist of a 2 page spread with titles like “The Phoney War”, “Adlertag”, “London takes It” and “In the Dark” (night fighters). Each spread is made up of a painting plus writing. The writing briefly describes the events of the subject “chapter” with usually other stuff included as well, for example aircraft stats, events by date, maps, a few biographies , cut-a-way labelled paintings of aircraft, aircraft tactics & weaponry etc. it gives quite a bit of background information overall and although it lacks detail because of the 2 page chapter format, it gives a good start to build on if you want to do further research.
There is an interesting air battle briefly described on page 114 in the chapter “The Chianti Party”. On 11th November, radar notified Fighter Command of incoming aircraft. They scrambled 2 Hurricane squadrons which found themselves confronted by aircraft of the Regia Aeronautica: 10 BR.20 bombers escorted by 40 CR.42 biplanes. Within minutes, 12 Italian aircraft were shot down for no Hurricane losses. The author comments “Belatedly the Italians had learnt a lesson that their Luftwaffe friends ought to have shared: daylight bombing raids over Britain were suicidal.”
The book does not really offer anything new, but provides a nice and colourful atmosphere that could provide some inspiration for getting the toys onto the table.