There have been scads of books published on the Battle of Britain. BROTHERS IN ARMS takes a slightly different tack, telling the combined stories of an RAF and a Luftwaffe squadron during the August-December 1940 period. It's an interesting approach and, in Chris Goss' capable hands, it becomes an entertaining one at that.
The two units profiled - 609 (West Riding) Squadron and 1/JG 53 - had been formed in the late 1930s, both seeing combat prior to the German assault on the British Isles. Both would see steady combat from August to December, 609 Squadron claiming 83 kills while losing 6 pilots KIA or MIA. 1/JG 53 claimed 51 victories while suffering 10 KIA/MIA/POW. The two units occasionally met in aerial combat.
Author Goss, 609's official historian, does an excellent job of relating each unit's development, early history and BoB experiences along with bringing to life the various personalities who flew in both units. By the fall of 1940, 609 had quite an interesting collection of characters - John Dundas, David Crook, 'Grandpa' Edge, 'Red' Tobin, CO Horace Darley and others. 1/JG 53, with an equally cosmopolitan group of pilots, was led by Hans-Karl Mayer, a Legion Condor Experten with 19 kills marked on the rudder of his Bf 109E. Goss also includes a a marvelous collection of photographs showing 609 and 1/JG 53 aircraft and pilots, other RAF and Luftwaffe birds/aircrew, combat scenes, etc.
If possible, I would have given BROTHERS IN ARMS 4 1/2 stars. Though the 'Brothers in Arms' concept is an interesting idea, Goss doesn't quite pull it off. The first 100 pages of the book covers mostly 609 Squadron with 1/JG 53 not being fleshed out until that point. It would have been better had Goss introduced both squadrons at the same point early in the book and then dealt with each in alternating chapters.
Having said that, I do recommend BROTHERS IN ARMS. It's a fresh, well-written and well-illustrated look at two opposing units and each's unique view of the Battle of Britain. Air combat fans will enjoy this one!
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