Just seeing the date pop up I am reminded that of all the days of the Battle of Britain, 18th August, is often cited as being the date when the fighting was at its peak.
Alfred Price’s excellent book of the same name is well worth a read if you haven’t already.
72 years on heh?
Moggy
By: Moggy C - 2nd October 2012 at 08:35
I can’t help with that I’m afraid, my copy is a 1979 one, but I thought I’d just like to mention I have found it 😀
Moggy
By: Moggy C - 2nd October 2012 at 08:35
I can’t help with that I’m afraid, my copy is a 1979 one, but I thought I’d just like to mention I have found it 😀
Moggy
By: DamonE - 2nd October 2012 at 08:27
I understand that this book has been reprinted many times.As recently as May 2010. Is there much variation and new material added since its first publication in the late 1970’s ,early 1980’s? Or has there been no alteration in the text since its first print.
Thank you.
By: DamonE - 2nd October 2012 at 08:27
I understand that this book has been reprinted many times.As recently as May 2010. Is there much variation and new material added since its first publication in the late 1970’s ,early 1980’s? Or has there been no alteration in the text since its first print.
Thank you.
By: hampden98 - 20th August 2012 at 10:18
Wasn’t it PAC, rather than balloon?
Moggy
Yep, that’s correct and what I meant 🙂
By: Moggy C - 20th August 2012 at 10:03
Wasn’t it PAC, rather than balloon?
Moggy
By: hampden98 - 20th August 2012 at 10:01
On behalf of Pobjoy Pete.
Maybe I can’t see it in the picture, where are the balloon cable defences?
By: hampden98 - 20th August 2012 at 09:55
Two other notable Ethel and Price books are;
“Air War South Atlantic” – The air war during the Falklands.
“One day in a Long War – Air War Vietnam” – One day, one particular battle over Vietnam.
Both the above covered in a similar manner to Hardest Day and highly recommended. The Hardest Day was on sale in the Works not long ago for £2.99.
Add to this list their book on the Berlin raid as already mentioned.
Are there any other notable Ethel and Price books I should read ?
While on the subject of Kenly, I have a very nice painting of Croydon Dispersal. What many people don’t realise was the pilots and aircraft were positioned near houses at the end of Croydons runway. These houses still exist although I can’t remember the road. At least one Blenheim ended up in the roof of a house.
By: Jayce - 20th August 2012 at 03:41
When I first visited Kenley about 15 years ago, I was absolutely amazed at how much of it still remained. The Hardest Day is a classic and it was something else to stand on one of the blast pens with that very book in hand and look through the Dornier photos. Probably the most vivid moment of history coming to life I’ve ever experienced.
By: pobjoy pete - 19th August 2012 at 23:13
Kenley Raid
One of the reasons that the low level Kenley raid is well documented is that war correspondents were on board the Dorniers,and consequently there is a detailed record (and photographs) of the raid. This was also an occaision when our Observer Corps were able to track a small individual raid with great detail,and record its progress.
The fact that all the Dorniers completed their attack as planned has to be seen as a success; that the overall plan failed to ‘eliminate’ Kenley is well covered in Alfred Prices book. At the time Kenley lacked proper defences, and its facilities were vunerable to any attack. That the op’s room survived was pure luck, no doubt its ‘bungalow’ appearance did little to highlight its importance.The subsequent ‘flack tower’ built to improve its low level protection still stands in a field about a mile to the south (Brooklands also had one added).
It has to be remembered that like so many of our sector stations Kenley was a ‘peace time’ station not constructed with the ‘bunker’ theme,the facilities were grouped together (not dispersed) and thanks to pre war ‘Lufthansa’ flights their locations and appearance well recorded.
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August 18, 2012 at 10:19 am
