With stunning artwork and detailed analysis, this volume provides a
pilot's view of the dramatic clashes between these two legendary
fighters, as some of the most gifted and "big name" aces of World War II
went head-to-head in the skies of Northwest Europe.
As the Battle of Britain approached its conclusion, two new versions of
the famous Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf 109 arrived on the scene. The
RAF could see that the Luftwaffe were stepping down their incursions
into British airspace and went on to the offensive. The Spitfire Mark
II, and increasingly the Mark V, would fly over the picturesque English
Channel in fighter sweeps, or to escort vulnerable Blenheim
bombers--waiting for them was the Bf 109F "Friedrich." Yet despite the
reversal of offensive and defensive dispositions, and despite the
Luftwaffe deploying the bulk of their fighter strength to the Eastern
Front in 1941, the Jagdflieger were able to inflict severe losses on
their RAF counterparts.