Good book on the European air war?

[Procopius]

Are there any good books on Fighter Command's war after the Battle of Britain? I'm interested in learning more about the RAF "rhubarbs" and fighter sweeps, and Terraine's The Right of the Line doesn't go into a lot of detail.

[John(txic)]

You'll find some personal experiences of these in Johnnie Johnson's "Wing Leader", ISTR.

[Procopius]

You'll find some personal experiences of these in Johnnie Johnson's "Wing Leader", ISTR.

I love Wing Leader! When I was nine I wrote Johnnie Johnson, and that great man very kindly sent me an autographed copy and wrote me a very nice letter. It was a phenomenal experience.

[cmatthewbacon]

There are some more personal recollections in Closterman's "The Big Show". He didn't get to an operational squadron until 1942, so the book covers the period between then and D-Day at some length (and afterwards, obviously). It's a great memoir, as well!

Even the official three-volume history of the RAF in WW2 doesn't have a separate chapter on this-- post BoB it goes straight into Africa, the far East, and one section on the Dieppe raid!

bestest,

M.

[Potato Pete]

There John Foreman's Fighter Command War Diaries, volumes 3 and 4 cover the period you're after I think. Basically these are day by day summaries of claims and losses with some narrative. The is also Chris Shores 2nd TAF volumes. In many ways covering similar ground to Foreman, but with more text and beautifully illustrated, lots of profiles and photos. Both sets are full of detail, nitty gritty sort of stuff, but neither really gives the bigger picture - not sure such such an account really exists, I don't think the Air HIstorical Branch narrative has been published.

Pete.