Stephen Smith

This work, as hoped from Baughen, was an incredible and eye-opening read. I was at it at every odd occasion that I could afford until it was read. It deserves better...a slow read...but it was so fascinating! The inability, or in some cases lack of opportunity, to see the wood for the trees amongst those in power and the consequencies for french aviation and those in the terrible crucible of battle were truly awful. Baughen does well with such a complex and dynamic situation and with hindsight he is able to suggest many alternative strategies. One can only imagine how terrible it was at the time to see the wood for the trees with so many frustrated and conflicting objectives at work in response to a flawed overall philosophy. It was an edge of chair and saddening read as failure became more and more inevitable when at each turn a different decision might have made enough difference. I was concerned about accepting totally the dictate of simply having to make do with the tools you have. This notion has to be applied with caution but I know that Baughen knows this really because I've read his book on the Fairey Battle. It's just that the consequencies of using the Blenheim throughout the entire war are still ringing in my ears (Warner's book). The loss of life was inexcusable but common it seems under war conditions. Anyway, a thank you to the author for such a wonderful book.