WW2 Bunker
The Few The American ""Knights of the Air"" Who Risked Everything to Save Britain in the Summer of 1940
The Few The American ""Knights of the Air"" Who Risked Everything to Save Britain in the Summer of 1940
Author: Alex Kershaw
Condition: Good
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The Few recounts the dramatic true story of eight young Americans who, more than a year before the United States entered World War II, defied neutrality laws and risked their citizenship to join Britain’s Royal Air Force in the summer of 1940. Flying lethal and elegant Spitfires with minimal training but fierce courage, they fought side‑by‑side with RAF Fighter Command against skilled Luftwaffe pilots in the air battles over England and the Channel, helping turn the tide in the Battle of Britain—an episode Winston Churchill summed up as owing “so much…to so few.” Alex Kershaw renders their duels, losses, and comradeship in a tight, narrative nonfiction style that emphasizes personal drama and the transnational stakes of pre‑war Anglo‑American relations.
Attributes: a narrative nonfiction World War II history focused on campaign and military aviation (RAF Fighter Command operations, summer 1940) with themes of volunteerism, risk to citizenship, pilot training, and air combat; author Alex Kershaw is a bestselling military historian (The Bedford Boys; The Longest Winter); ISBN 9780306815720. The supplied metadata classifies the book by campaign and subject headings but does not specify the presence of maps, photographs, or any special/rare edition information.
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Keywords, content and topics in this Book
Keywords, content and topics in this Book
Title / Author / Publication
Type of Book
World War II history
Campaign history (Battle of Britain)
Military aviation history
Narrative nonfiction
Theater(s) of War
Battle of Britain airspace
Operations and Campaigns
RAF Fighter Command operations, summer 1940
Main Nations and Belligerents
Allies vs. Axis
Focus of the Book
American volunteer pilots in RAF service
Air combat over Britain and the English Channel
Transnational volunteers / foreign volunteers in British forces
Subjects / Themes
Risking citizenship and legal status to join combat
Pilot training and combat experience
Air duels and dogfighting over Britain
Personal courage and sacrifice
Comradeship among fighter pilots
Losses, casualties, and survival
Impact of individual pilots on the outcome of the Battle of Britain
People / Units
Royal Air Force Fighter Command pilots
Weapons / Vehicles (Aircraft)
German Luftwaffe fighter and bomber aircraft (opponents in air battles)
Visual and Supporting Material
Subject Headings / Classification-style Tags
World War, 1939–1945—Aerial operations, British
World War, 1939–1945—Aerial operations, American volunteers
World War, 1939–1945—Campaigns—Great Britain—Battle of Britain
Great Britain. Royal Air Force—Fighter Command—History
Fighter pilots—United States—Biography
Fighter pilots—Great Britain—Biography
Volunteers, American—Great Britain—History—20th century
United States—Foreign relations—Great Britain—1933–1945 (pre–Lend-Lease volunteer context)
Additional Descriptive Keywords
Battle of Britain narratives
Air combat over England
Dogfights and air duels
Cross-border military volunteers
Anglo-American wartime relations (pre–U.S. entry)
High-risk flying operations
Casualties and loss in fighter squadrons
Book Condition: Good
Book Condition: Good
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Before you enlist a new title into your personal library, check the Condition Report below to see how much action these volumes have seen:
New: Fresh Out of Bootcamp
Flawless and untested. This book is in pristine, new condition and ready for its first assignment.
Like New: Light Combat Experience
Almost new and in great shape. It has clearly been read before and is ready to fight again, but it shows very little wear from its time in the field.
Good: A Few Scars or Shell Shock
A reliable veteran. The book might have some bent corners or a dust cover with a few scratches, but it’s still sturdy and standing tall.
Fair: Battle-Hardened
Visible signs of a long campaign. Expect some stains, bent pages, and perhaps some minor tears on the cover. It’s seen the trenches, but the intel inside is still solid.
Poor: Survived Iwo Jima
This one has been through the meat grinder. It carries noticeable damage, heavy staining, or significant wear—but like any old soldier, it would love to be read one last time before it retires.
