CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 MIDAIR DUELS CHAPTER 2THE PHONY WAR AND DUNKIRK CHAPTER 3 THEIR FINEST HOUR 36 CHAPTER 4 EAGLE ATTACK CHAPTER 5 BOMBS OVER LONDON CHAPTER 6 CIVILIAN SOLDIERS CHAPTER 7 THE BLITZ CHAPTER 8 HARD FOUGHT VICTORY TIMELINE ESSENTIAL FACTS 100 GLOSSARY 102 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 104 SOURCE NOTES 106 INDEX 110 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 112
L JL Described as a cargo plane during its development to disguise its true purpose the He 111 was among the most common German bombers early in World War
CHAPTES MIDAIR DUELS August 16 1940 dawned sunny and clear over the southern United Kingdom It was perfect flying weather for the massive fleet of German airplanes headed for London the nation's capital Heinkel He 111 bombers and Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters soared over the coastline Their pilots and crews prepared to launch a devastating attack from the air The airborne assault was part of the Battle of Britain British radar and ground observers quickly spotted the German aircraft which were flying toward the Royal Air Force RAF airfield at Biggin Hill The German pilots orders were to bomb planes runways buildings and any radio or radar equipment they could find Before reaching Biggin Hill the large He 111s began releasing their bombs early over the London suburb of Wimbledon There were no military installations here only parks rows of houses and a sprawling tennis
