The Rolls-Royce Merlin powered the Battle of Britain aircraft, the Spitfire and Hurricane, as they defended the shores of Britain against the Luftwaffe in summer 1940. It also powered the Lancasters and Halifaxes of Bomber Command as they went on their missions of destruction to the German heartland. For Americans, the Merlin was the power plant of the Mustang escort fighter that protected the US Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress and B-29 Super Fortress bombers on their daylight raids to the enemy. This book tells the human story of the development of the engine and its operational use during the war, featuring the voices of air crew who relied on this technological tour de force.
New B-format paperback - First ever narrative history of the famous aero engine that powered the Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster, Mosquito and Mustang, the aircraft that made the difference between victory and defeat at critical moments in the Second World War - the Battle of Britain and the allied aerial offensive against Germany.
Gordon A. A. Wilsonflew with the Canadian air forces 414 Electronic Warfare Squadron, and subsequently flew for 30 years for a major airline. Since retiring has worked as an instructor for Air Canada and as an aviation consultant writing manuals. His other books includeNORAD and the Soviet Nuclear Threat. He lives in British Columbia.
![The Merlin: The Engine That Won the Second World War [Paperback]](/itemImage/2/9/9/6/2_4358599.jpg "The Merlin: The Engine That Won the Second World War [Paperback]")