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Spitfire I

Phoney War and Battle of France
Series: Dogfight
Brief Description
An illustrated study of the legendary Spitfire and the evolving tactics behind its early defence of Britain’s shores. The Spitfire endures as one of the most iconic aircraft of World War II. Nevertheless, its initial skirmishes and battles yielded as many challenges as successes, with German... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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An illustrated study of the legendary Spitfire and the evolving tactics behind its early defence of Britain's shores.

An illustrated study of the legendary Spitfire and the evolving tactics behind its early defence of Britain’s shores.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An illustrated study of the legendary Spitfire and the evolving tactics behind its early defence of Britain’s shores.

The Spitfire endures as one of the most iconic aircraft of World War II. Nevertheless, its initial skirmishes and battles yielded as many challenges as successes, with German forces soon outpacing pre-war RAF tactics and exploiting the Spitfire’s modest endurance to their advantage.

This new study offers an engaging account of the celebrated fighter’s early encounters with the Luftwaffe from 1939–1940, chronicling the rapid strategic evolution of Spitfire units from the Phoney War through to the Battle of France and the Dunkirk evacuation.

Aviation expert Tony Holmes shines a new light on the fledgling exploits of this world-famous aircraft. Enhanced by newly commissioned maps, ribbon diagrams, and full-colour artworks, as well as a host of archive photos, this fascinating exploration brings depth and insight to its journey through the Spitfire’s early years.

Series: Dogfight

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  • Spitfire I
    An illustrated study of the legendary Spitfire and the evolving tactics behind its early defence of Britain’s shores. The Spitfire endures as one of the most iconic aircraft of World War II. Nevertheless, its initial skirmishes and battles yielded as many challenges as successes, with German forces soon outpacing pre-war RAF tactics and exploiting the Spitfire’s modest endurance to their...
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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472857675

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 June 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Osprey Publishing

Illustration: Colour artwork plates and maps; black & white and colour photographs and illustrations.

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Gareth Hector
  • Illustrated by Jim Laurier

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 8.0mm

Width: 184.0mm

Height: 246.0mm

Weight: 260g

Pages: 80

About the Author

Tony Holmes became Osprey’s aviation editor in 1989 after he moved to England from Western Australia. Responsible for devising several long-running series, Tony has also written more than 30 books for Osprey over the past 35 years. He lives and works in Kent, UK.

The illustrators for this title are Gareth Hector (cover and battlescene), Jim Laurier (armament views) and Tim Brown (ribbon and technical diagrams).

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