The Most Dangerous Enemy: The
Definitive History of the Battle of
Britain by Stephen Bungay
Unmissable.
Already hailed as the standard work, The Most Dangerous Enemy is an
authoritative history of the British battle that galvanized the public
imagination and symbolized the destiny of a nation. But in this rigorous
reinvestigation of the Battle of Britain, Stephen Bungay tells a story full of
revelations. Whether assessing the development of radar or the relative
merits of the Spitfire, Hurricane, and Messerschmitt, he uncovers the
unexpected truth behind many time-honored myths. Not only a major work
of modern history but also a truly compelling narrative, The Most
Dangerous Enemy confirms the Battle of Britain as a crucial event in
European history.

Personal Review: The Most Dangerous Enemy: The Definitive
History of the Battle of Britain by Stephen Bungay
As others have noted, an awful lot has been written about the biggest air
battle in history, upon which world events really did pivot. Some works are
mythical adulation of heroes and others are mere revisionism looking to
find sensational points of weakness to old stories.
Bungay's analysis, and this is what it is rather than a blood pumping action
novel, is methodical, insightful and ultimately unmissable.
He asks a series of very reasonable questions.
Why was there a battle at all?
What were the real odds (not just the headline numbers, but what was
behind them logistically and culturally)?
How well were the resources actually deployed, coordinated, and
-crucially- led?
Was there ever really a chance of invasion?
What was it like as a pilot new to combat?
What were your odds if you were hit?
In fact in one memorable section he describes the clear distinction
between the elite of each side and the mass of the pilots. Your chances as
an inexperienced pilot were largely a matter of pure chance as you supply
the experienced opposition elite with a nice target and your own with a
protection screen.
The analysis is deep and thoughtful. What comes across is that the battle
was a struggle of systems and that it was a process of attrition. The pilots
are well represented here and there are many insights, but the command,
control and logistics are covered very well too.
Primarily the book debunks the idea that the gallant RAF, hopelessly
outclassed and highly amateurish overcame a ruthlessly efficient German
war machine operating at peak efficiency. The truth of it was that it was the
RAF that had the most advanced intelligence and control structure in the
world and that the Luftwaffe was crippled by inconsistencies of leadership
and petty meddling in matters that should have been left to field
commanders. The stuggle between Goering and Park highlights this
perfectly; the one, cool, authoritative and hard to fault (even with detailed
hindsight), the other highly strung, emotional and destructive.
A wonderful book. You will find yourself re-reading sections for years. I
know I have.
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