Growth of Fighter Command, 1936-1940 Air Defence of Great Britain, Volume 1 [Paperback]

The first of two volumes of the classified Air Historical Branch study of Fighter Command and the Air Defence of the United Kingdom. It covers pre-war expansion of the Command, the creation of the first integrated air defence system, and an account of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain.

Part 1: The Growth of the ADGB System Prior to 1935: The Origin of the ADGB System  Delays in its Completion.  The Organization oftThe Aircraft Fighting Zone.  Raid Intelligence.  Relationship between the c-in-c and Subsidiary Air Defence Formations.  Progress Towards Consolidating the Air Defences.  The Growth of the ADGB Command.  The Numerical Weakness of the RAF.  The Rise of Germany and the First Expansion of the Metropolitan Air Force.  The Need for the Reorientation of the ADGB System  Part 2: The Reorientation of the Air Defence of Great Britain (1): The Formation of the ADGB Sub-Committee  Basic Principles of Air Defence.  Alternative Defence Schemes.  The Weapons Needed.  The Extent of the Threatened Area.  Recommendations, April 1935.  Implications of the Report.  Further Deterioration in the Political Situation.  Suggested Acceleration of the Air Defence Scheme.  Decision of the Cabinet  Part 3: The Expansion of the Air Force and the Formation of Fighter Command: Air Staff View of the German Claim to Air Parity  A New Expansion Scheme - The Meaning of Parity.  Proposed Fighter Strength.  Acceleration of the Expansion Scheme.  The Consequent Reorganization of the Metropolitan Air Force.  Abolition of the ADGB Command.  New Relationship between Air Ministry, Command and Groups.  Opposition to the New System.  Control of Operations.  The Opening olC$