Customer Reviews

Spitfire vs Bf 109: Battle of Britain (Duel)

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Osprey's Duel No. 5, Spitfire vs. Bf 109, is a well-put together package that combines both a high graphic quality and a penetrating level of research that underpins the author's narrative. The author, Tony Holmes, is an aviation expert well familiar with this topic and some of the pilots involved and thus succeeds in providing a great deal of credibility to this effort. The duel for supremacy between the British Royal Air Force Spitfire fighters versus the Luftwaffe's Bf 109 fighters over England in the summer of 1940 is one of the classic air campaigns in military history and this volume puts it in sharp perspective. Overall, this is an excellent volume, well worth adding even if you already have a book or two on the Battle of Britain.

This volume begins with a 12-page section on the design and development of both the Spitfire and the Bf 109. A 2-page chronology that highlights key dates in the development of both aircraft is also provided. One interesting point that the author makes here is that neither Vickers Supermarine or Messerschmitt had any experience building fighters, but they both succeeded in designing and building world-class fighter planes. The author also points out that the Spitfire was a fairly complicated aircraft and took twice as long to build as a Bf 109. The author then moves into a 10-page section on technical specifications, which essentially lists the main characteristics of each variant of the Bf-109E and the Spitfire I/II. This section was good, but lacks a direct comparison between the two fighter's main characteristics, such as maneuverability and firepower. No information is provided about characteristics critical in a dogfight, such as turning rate, ability to dive, etc. Straight up comparisons between the speed of a Bf 109 and a Spitfire don't tell us much. These early sections also have four nice color plates depicting 3-way views of both fighters, as well as the internal layout of their weaponry.

The section entitled `Strategic Situation' consists of nine pages that essentially lays out the conditions of the Battle of Britain. Maps depicting both British and German fighter bases are included. The following 11-page section, `the Combatants,' covers the British and German fighter pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain. A full-page profile of Flying Officer Brian Carbury (15 Bf 109 kills) and Hauptmann Herbert Ihlefeld (15 Spitfires killed) is provided, as well as discussions of British and German pilot training. Between previous combat experience in Spain, Poland and France and better pre-war flight training, the Luftwaffe fighter pilots appear to have had an edge over their RAF opponents in 1940. This section also has color plates with the interior of both plane's cockpits.

The 16-page section on combat is well-written but a bit short and focuses on tactics rather than first-person accounts. As the author notes, British pre-war fighter tactics were too focused on defeating massed bomber formations. Technological choices, such as the use of small-caliber machineguns for armament, meant that the Spitfire was initially optimized for an anti-bomber role and given faulty tactics. The British penchant for formation flying in 3-plane vics - which the Luftwaffe pilots dubbed `rows of idiots' - initially forced Spitfire units to fight in unwieldy formations that were vulnerable to German slashing attacks. Amazingly, the pre-war RAF had not considered how to deal with bombers escorted by fighters. On the other hand, the Luftwaffe started with very flexible rotte and schwarm tactics learned from prior combat and were very successful at picking off `tail end charlies' in large British formations. However, as the author sees it, the RAF gradually abandoned their cumbersome pre-war tactics while the Germans sacrificed their superior tactics by chaining their fighters in close escort to the bombers. Perhaps the most interesting section of this volume is "Statistics and Analysis," which provides some hard data to back up the author's narrative. Overall, the Bf-109 pilots achieved a 1.2:1 kill ratio during the Battle of Britain, which was not enough to achieve air superiority. He makes interesting points about which units scored the most kills and how the German system was optimized for a few elite pilots to make most of the kills while the rest were little more than supporting players. The author provides a chart listing the top Spitfire and Bf 109 killers for each side. This volume also has a nice color battle scene and a number of sketch diagrams of fighter tactics.

While the author provides a fair degree of balance throughout the volume, it is clear that he favors the British Spitfire over the Bf-109, while admitting that technically the two fighters were evenly matched in 1940. Given the better German fighter tactics and more experienced pilots, it would seem that the Bf 109 squadrons probably had the edge in most situations in the early phases of the Battle of Britain. The author only passes lightly over the range limitation issue, but had the Germans taken the simple step of issuing spare fuel drop tanks to their Bf 109s in August 1940, they might have gained the ability to conduct extended dogfights over England instead of 20-minute zip over/zip back attacks. Furthermore, the author subscribes to the cherished British notion that the Battle of Britain was a decisive victory and a major turning point in the war, but it was more like a goal-line stand that denied German victory, rather than achieving any real victory for Britain. Indeed, the author deigns to mention pin-prick British fighter raids on France in 1941 but fails to mention that the Blitz continued to inflict large numbers of British casualties for some time. Ultimately, the duel between the Spitfire and the Bf 109 was called on account of Barbarossa, with the first round (Dunkirk) going to Germany and the second (August-October 1940) going to Britain.

Having bought many Osprey titles in the past i pretty much knew what to expect and wasn't disappointed. As with other books of theirs, there are plenty of photos to go along with the info as well as some color drawings of the aircraft. A nice feature are the ones of the interior of both planes. I also enjoyed the short biographies of several 109 and spitfire aces. As the title indicates this book only concerns itself with the battle of Britain phase of the war so only the early models of the planes are explored. The reader is given a nice background into the development of both types and will come away with a better appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of both. Overall, a relatively short read but highly recommend.

An obvious title in this interesting new series from Osprey, with a more 'graphic' style of publication, cutaways, three views etc...Unfortunately there is little direct comparison of the two types and Holmes presents an entirely conventional view of the classic aerial joust that was the Battle of Britain. In fact the author doesn't really commit himself on which of the two aeroplanes was the better fighter, but does argue that the Spitfire prevented the Luftwaffe from gaining aerial ascendancy, thus dashing Hitler's hopes of launching an invasion. There is of course no room in this slim volume's 80 pages for any wider discussion of the conflict - did Hitler ever have any real intention of mounting an invasion of England with his derisory collection of barges ? You won't find any anwers to those kinds of questions here, although of course Hitler's aims were key for determining exactly how the Me 109 was deployed & indeed how it fared over England. As it was German invasion plans that were elaborated were essentially a subterfuge, a means of exerting political pressure & Goebbels states as much in his diaries. Me 109 pilots were sacrificed over England essentially in order to exert political pressure on Churchill and the British population in an attempt to 'facilitate' British acceptance of Germany's peace overtures. Does this diminish the achievements of the RAF in the 'battle' - no, not really. The Spitfires kept the upper hand while the Me 109s were shackled to the bombers which were then turned against London - in the end the margin wasn't even close. This was a defeat for the much-vaunted Luftwaffe and the Me 109 - Hitler's first of many..

To sum up, the book is meagre in size and scope and rather expensive for only 80 pages. Two of those are wasted on the Postlethwaite 'battle scene' painting - the book cannot even be opened flat to view it. The cover illustrations are superb though..

Seldom if ever in the field of human conflict were opponents so evenly matched as the Battle of Britain match between the Spitfire and the Bf 109E.

Trying to name a "better" aircraft is like picking a winner between two perfect roses; almost any reason for selecting one or the other can draw valid comparisons and alternatives. The Spitfire certainly "wins" on looks alone; the Bf 109E has a two-to-one edge on the ease of manufacture.

The Royal Air Force ended the 123-day campaign stronger than when it started, due to superior numbers of aircraft produced. Luftwaffe losses were 610 Bf 109Es, the RAF lost 770 Spitfires and Hurricanes due to enemy action. By the numbers, the Luftwaffe "won" by a 1.2 to 1 margin in terms of aircraft downed. In final impact, it was a massive RAF victory because at least a 5 to 1 ratio "kill" ratio was needed before invading England.

"We knew that there was a lot wrong with our tactics during the Battle of Britain, but it was one hell of a time to alter everything we had practised," Holmes quotes Plt Off Bobby Oxpsring as saying.

Holmes does a great job in sorting through numbers, equipment, tactics and overall strategy of the Battle of Britain. The key factor is that despite superb aircraft and pilots, the fatal drawbacks were at the strategic level -- which he addresses. As in any venture, mistakes are inevitable; when it comes to human conflict, it's more often mistakes than equipment that is crucial.

In this case, mistakes cost Hitler his one slim chance to invade England; for the British at this stage of the war, mistakes were largely borne by the wives and relatives of pilots, aircrew and bombing victims. The equipment can't be faulted on either side.

This Osprey book arrived in good order, along with four other military books. While I was in the navy, I acquired an interest in simulation wargames. One of those games was 'The Battle of Britain'. Since that time, I have been adding books and magazines, which fall into that category of WWII air battles. This book would have been an asset to my warfare class at SHS, as it would have helped explain the strengths and weaknesses of these two major combatants of the air. Amazon has done an outstanding job in presenting these types of military books at a very affordable price. Thanks. B.L.

One of the duels during the Battle of Britain was the combat between the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the British Spitfire. This book discusses the combat between these two fighters.

There is a brief introductory essay to place the planes' duels into perspective. Then, a brief chronology in the histories of these contending planes. As per the standard formula for this series, we then read of design and development, technical specifications, the strategic situation facing Germany and Great Britain. Here, geography is considered, such as the sites where German fighters took off from. The combatants (pilots) are detailed, including a discussion of their training. One interesting feature is a look at the cockpits of the two fighters (see pages 50-51). The book closes with a discussion of the Battle of Britain and how the planes fared against one another. A nice addition to the Duel Series from Osprey Publishing.

I would not have brought this book if I had seen it first.

I was hoping for exactly what the book title stated "Spitfire vs Bf109" instead what I got was a book about the two planes with very little on the duel between them. The book does have some nice pictures. Nothing new.

Good details on the aircraft. I would have been happier if there were more on the people who flew these birds into combat.

Very interesting. Has pics, drawins, tech info. Easy to read, and lots of info.