This book was written by Paul Richey in 1941 based on his diary of the Phoney War and the Battle of France. It is well written and gives a clear impression of the strange lives led by the pilots over the winter of 1939 - 1940, flying from basic airfields and living with French families with trips to various cities for 'rests' usually involving large quantities of champagne. Then with the start of the Blitzkrieg the chaotic fighting withdrawal during which time the RAF fighter squadrons acquitted themselves well, far better than most are aware. As many know the Bomber squadrons suffered very badly and Richey expresses his concerns at the loss of close friends from his time in training at RAF College Cranwell. Both as a record of a little known period in the RAF's history and a personal perspective this book has stood the test of time. Recommended.
The first book to be ever published of a fighter Pilot's experiences in WWII. The Battle of France pre dates the Battle of Britain by only a few months but is rarely mentioned nowadays.