Book Review of The RAF Battle of Britain Fighter Pilot's Kitbag
Uniforms & Equipment From the Summer of 1940 & the Human Stories Behind Them
Author: Mark Hillier
Frontline Books Publisher
ISBN: 9781473849993
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $ 26.95
ISBN: 9781473849993
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $ 26.95
The scenes are familiar ones, the young "Brylereum Boys" sat at dispersal waiting for the haunting call of "Scramble", lounging in their shirt sleeves and fur-lines boots, their leather flying helmets lying limp by their sides. But what did the RAF fighter pilots of the Battle of Britain really wear, and what vital items would their kitbags held?
The casual air of dashing pilots of Fighter Command in the Spitfire Summer of 1940 conceals a necessarily professional approach to their task of holding Hitler's Luftwaffe at bay. Therefore, each item of clothing and equipment they wore and carried had a role and a function, be it for warmth and comfort, communication, or for fighting and survival.
All the objects that a RAF fighter pilot was issued with during the Battle of Britain are explored in this book in high-definition color photographs, showing everything, from the differing uniforms, to headgear, personal weapons, gloves, goggles, parachute packs and the essential Mae West life jacket. Each time is fully described and its purpose and use explained.
Relive Britain's finest hour as never before - through the actual clothing and accouterments of "The Few".
THE AUTHOR:
Mark Hillier is a Chartered Surveyor who has a deep knowledge of the history of the RAF, with a particular focus on the Second World War. He is also a qualified pilot, having flown for more than twenty-two years, including may flights from the former RAF Westhampnett, now Goodwood Aerodrome. He has co-authored three successful books on aviation and written the biography of Wing Commander Thomas Murray.
THE BOOK:
Frontline Books is based in South Yorkshire, UK.
This book is soft-bound of 114 pages in 7 1/2" x 9 3/4" page format.
The cover art shows a blue RAF uniform dress jacket, goggles, leather flight helmet, cloths side cap and a oxygen mask again a sky background with a Spitfire on it.
The book contains 27 black and white wartime photos and 29 color photos of the pilot's kitbag equipment.
The 9 chapters are on:
1. Type B leather pilot's helmets.
2. Flying goggles and their cases.
3. Oxygen masks.
4. Flying clothing.
5. Flying boots and footwear.
6. Gloves.
7. Lifesaving equipment.
8. Service dress and non-flying equipment.
9. Badges of rank, cap badges, flying brevets and identity insignia.
This is on great picture album of what these RAF pilots wore and used during the Battle of Britain. The book will be of much interest to both aviation historians and modelers alike.
I want to thank Casemate Publishing, the U.S. distributor for Frontline books for this review sample.and the folks at Frontline too.
The casual air of dashing pilots of Fighter Command in the Spitfire Summer of 1940 conceals a necessarily professional approach to their task of holding Hitler's Luftwaffe at bay. Therefore, each item of clothing and equipment they wore and carried had a role and a function, be it for warmth and comfort, communication, or for fighting and survival.
All the objects that a RAF fighter pilot was issued with during the Battle of Britain are explored in this book in high-definition color photographs, showing everything, from the differing uniforms, to headgear, personal weapons, gloves, goggles, parachute packs and the essential Mae West life jacket. Each time is fully described and its purpose and use explained.
Relive Britain's finest hour as never before - through the actual clothing and accouterments of "The Few".
THE AUTHOR:
Mark Hillier is a Chartered Surveyor who has a deep knowledge of the history of the RAF, with a particular focus on the Second World War. He is also a qualified pilot, having flown for more than twenty-two years, including may flights from the former RAF Westhampnett, now Goodwood Aerodrome. He has co-authored three successful books on aviation and written the biography of Wing Commander Thomas Murray.
THE BOOK:
Frontline Books is based in South Yorkshire, UK.
This book is soft-bound of 114 pages in 7 1/2" x 9 3/4" page format.
The cover art shows a blue RAF uniform dress jacket, goggles, leather flight helmet, cloths side cap and a oxygen mask again a sky background with a Spitfire on it.
The book contains 27 black and white wartime photos and 29 color photos of the pilot's kitbag equipment.
The 9 chapters are on:
1. Type B leather pilot's helmets.
2. Flying goggles and their cases.
3. Oxygen masks.
4. Flying clothing.
5. Flying boots and footwear.
6. Gloves.
7. Lifesaving equipment.
8. Service dress and non-flying equipment.
9. Badges of rank, cap badges, flying brevets and identity insignia.
This is on great picture album of what these RAF pilots wore and used during the Battle of Britain. The book will be of much interest to both aviation historians and modelers alike.
I want to thank Casemate Publishing, the U.S. distributor for Frontline books for this review sample.and the folks at Frontline too.