Battle of Britain: The Hardest Day, August 18th, 1940

by Alfred Price

World War 2, fine 1st Granada 1980 paperback, true Battle of Britain 18 August 1940 In stock shipped from our UK warehouse

Genres: History, World War II, War, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Aviation, Military History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Alfred Price seved for 16 years as an aircrew officer in the Royal air Force where he specialised in electronic warfare and air fighting tactics.

He left the RAF in 1974 and thereafter he worked full time as a writer on aviation subjects.

He holds a PhD in history from Loughborough University and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Reviews

[Mark Lisac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well explained and gripping account of the day in the Battle of Britain that saw the most aircraft lost on both sides. Possibly 3.5 stars in view of the limited scope, although the close-up view of many details helps a reader understand the events in various ways. The cordiality of former foes who meet one another about 30 years after the war adds a surreal patina to the story, raising the question, as do other accounts, of how the years of mad violence broke out.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without doubt the best non-fiction book written on the Battle of Britain.
It focuses on one day of the Battle from sunrise to sunset.
Brilliantly and meticulously researched it gives you a great insight into what those days in 1940 must have been like.
If you read one book on the Battle of Britain then this must be it!

[Au Yong Chee Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why choose one single day in the Battle of Britain? Simply because it was "The Hardest Day"!
That was the day the greatest number of British aircraft was destroyed or damaged - 136 aircraft compared to 100 German aircraft.
But it was not mere numbers that made this a compelling tale. As both sides found out, aircraft losses could be made good by factory production. Pilot losses, however, were not so easy to replace.
The decision to write this book came accidentally when the author was present at the reunion in May 1975 of the German Bomber Crews Comrades' Association.
For enthusiastic readers of the Battle of Britain, we can only be grateful that Mr Price decided to attend this function which resulted in "The Hardest Day."
This book is a superb concise account of one single day told from both sides.

[Barbara Mader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Or maybe four stars. It seems a meticulously researched book about one day during the Battle of Britain, as seen from both sides. Perhaps because I've read so many books on the Battle of Britain, I did find myself wishing for more consistency as to pilots lost along with how many planes were lost--that is, sometimes when mentioning planes shot down, Price tells what happened to the pilots, but sometimes he didn't. This is a very picky bit of criticism, though. I thought the book was very well done.

[Gregory Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a concise and unique perspective into the Battle of Britain, one that is narrow in scope and highlights the events of August the 18th in 1940 which is oft referred to as "the hardest day". It flows well with use of first person narratives from participants in the battle. I recommend this for anyone interested in WWII aviation history.

[Aegelis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vague Memory of a Great Book

Although I wasn't much of a reader growing up, there were a few books I considered excellent at the time. As a huge fan of the Spitfire, this story had me thrilled to bits with fast-paced action, feeling like I was in the cockpit. Pre-internet, I couldn't find the book because I couldn't remember the title, was it... The Longest Day? No, The Longest Hour? No, but when a friend showed me a video of a Spitfire doing a low pass over a reporter's head, then it came back to me! Best aerial battle I've found in print so far. Perhaps I'll pick it up again to relive that memory.

[Hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes this such a great book, is that it focusses on August 18th. It first details some of the background information on the combatants and organizations that will be confronting each other that day: RAF vs Luftwaffe. This sets the stage for the swirling air battle of the 18th.

You, as the reader, can see what happens from different prespectives. Not only through the eyes of the RAF and Luftwaffe, but also from the civilians on the ground. What did they see and hear? What was their impression of it all? Also the effects of the bombing are described in gripping detail. All three raids by the Luftwaffe are described in a wel written and easy to follow way. Some maps also make clear where the raids were heading and where the RAF positioned their fighter squadrons. But also the ground defenses around the airfields are described. Their role being more varied than one would expect.

Next the events of the day are reviewed and put into perspective of the battle of Britain as a whole. What made this day so special? How did the journalists, both in Britain and Germany, tell the story to the population? Were there any lessons learned?

This is one of the best books on the battle of Britain, despite the fact that it only tells the story of one day.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could easily have been called "The Hardest Half Day" because things were fogged in until around 1:00 pm. But once things started the action was constant all through the book. It was an interesting and detailed account of one afternoon during the Battle Of Britain. There is so much going on that often it takes longer to read about it than it did to happen in real time. The author also presents a nice balance with accounts by German and British pilots, military personnel on the ground as well as civilians. I would highly recommend this very readable book.

[Dave Beeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting detailed account of the Luftwaffe verses Britain's Fighter Command on August 18, 1940. The goal of the Germans was to begin to cripple fighter command so the proposed assault on England could be accomplished with the Germans dominating the skies. Why the hardest day? August 18th saw the highest casualties in a 24 hour period of planes and crews experienced during the whole of the "Battle for Britain".

[Iain · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pitch-perfect look at the Battle from Britain for those who love their narrative histories driven by anecdotal accounts. Kudos for excellent illustrations and discussion of parachute cable technologies - which I have never seen elsewhere.

I've enjoyed other books by Price, and look forward to continuing to do so in the future.

[Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of the "Hardest Day" of the "Battle of Britain.
Literally a blow-by-blow account of the raids and dog fights of the 18th August 1940 and the Luftwaffe's attempt to destroy RAF Fighter Command.

Well written. Engrossing.

[Peter Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reconstruction of a vital day in the Battle of Britain.Excellent maps.He proves that this day probably deserves more recognition than the official day in September as the day to commemorate.

[DaveRed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this book regularly since I was a child . I try to read it once a year. It is simply my favourite book on the Battle Of Britain . I recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn about this event.

[Skyring · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed look at a busy day in the battle. The claims made by both sides go well beyond the reality. Some interesting insights via hindsight.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting view of both sides in battle. Explained well some of the difficulties men and women met with in the air and on the ground. Did not keep the book, but did enjoy reading it.

[James White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent