CHIANTI RAIDERS

The extraordinary story of the Italian Air Force in the Battle of Britain. To most people, the Battle of Britain was a violent and bloody duel between the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe. Until now, the involvement of Mussolini's Corpo Aereo Italiano in this decisive campaign has been one of the least known episodes of World War II. In this fascinating account Peter Haining tells the intriguing story of Italian-led air raids on England that has a truly fascinating cast of characters - from Italo Balbo, the pioneer aviator, fascist leader and possible successor to Il Duce, to Enzo Squazzini, a bomber pilot shot down off the coast of Suffolk who later attempted to run an Italian prisoner-of-war camp like a Mafia don. Eye-witness testimonies from civilians and RAF squadrons, as well as crashes, imprisonments and escapes add up to a colourful new chapter to the enduring legend of the Battle of Britain.