Spitfire I

Phoney War and Battle of France

Tony Holmes (Editor), Gareth Hector (Illustrator), Jim Laurier (Illustrator)

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English

Osprey
01 October 2025

History; 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000; Second World War; Air forces & warfare; Military aircraft; Aircraft: general interest

Series: Dogfight

An illustrated study of the legendary Spitfire and the evolving tactics behind its early defence of Britain’s shores.

The Spitfire endures as one of the most iconic aircraft of World War II. Nevertheless, its initial skirmishes and battles yielded as many challenges as successes, with German forces soon outpacing pre-war RAF tactics and exploiting the Spitfire’s modest endurance to their advantage. This new study offers an engaging account of the celebrated fighter’s early encounters with the Luftwaffe from 1939–40, chronicling the rapid strategic evolution of Spitfire units from the Phoney War through to the Battle of France and the Dunkirk evacuation.

Aviation expert Tony Holmes shines a new light on the fledgling exploits of this world-famous aircraft. Enhanced by newly commissioned maps, ribbon diagrams and full-colour artworks, as well as a host of archive photos, this fascinating exploration brings depth and insight to its journey through the Spitfire’s early years.

By: Tony Holmes (Editor)
Illustrated by: Gareth Hector (Illustrator), Jim Laurier (Illustrator)
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 13
Dimensions: Height: 246mm, Width: 184mm, Spine: 8mm
Weight: 260g
ISBN: 9781472857675
ISBN 10: 1472857674
Series: Dogfight
Pages: 80
Publication Date: 01 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

(Subject to confirmation) 1. In Battle 2. Setting the Scene 3. Path to Combat 4. Weapon of war 5. Art of War 6. Combat Aftermath Bibliography Index

Tony Holmes became Osprey’s aviation editor in 1989 after he moved to England from Western Australia. Responsible for devising several long-running series, Tony has also written more than 30 books for Osprey over the past 35 years. He lives and works in Kent, UK. The illustrators for this title are Gareth Hector (cover and battlescene), Jim Laurier (armament views) and Tim Brown (ribbon and technical diagrams).