A warts and all history of Britain’s most successful warplane, this very readable book traces the Spitfire’s story from drawing board to retirement via its triumphs in the Battle of Britain and other campaigns. McKinstry is very good on the bureaucratic battles that almost strangled the Spitfire at birth.

The Spitfire has long become more than just a very successful fighter plane and passed into the pantheon of immortal national icons. This study of the much-loved and beautiful little aircraft that arguably saved Britain from invasion and defeat in 1940 is remarkable for both its readability and its comprehensiveness. Author Leo McKinstry is a journalist who has thoroughly researched his subject and produced a book that is worthy of the plane. He is particularly good in tracing the battles that surrounded the Spitfire’s birth before a single aircraft had been built. The brainchild of a designer of genius, Reginald Mitchell, the Spitfire was lucky to get past the cheese-paring bureaucrats of the Air Ministry and into production. Once in the air, however, the Spitfire proved its worth and the testimonies of the pilots who flew her who McKinstry has interviewed - are unanimous in praising the plane’s looks, speed, manouvreability and sheer joy to fly. McKinstry traces the whole story of the Spitfire from drawing board to retirement, via the Battle of Britain and its role in other theatres of the war. One surprise that the author springs is that Churchill, at first, was no fan of the Spitfire. Interestingly, the man who saved it was the much-despised Chamberlain.

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Details


Product Code:	10927
Author:	Leo McKInstry
Format:	H/b. B/w photographs. Published Price £
Shipping Time:	This item is usually dispatched Next Day
Retail Price:	~~£25.00~~
Our Price:	£6.95 save 72%