British airmen experienced a wide range of conditions and challenges during the Second World War. They served in every corner of the globe, operating over oceans and deserts, jungles and cities. In this fully illustrated introduction to the subject, Stuart Hadaway examines the experiences of the young men who, as well as carrying out air offensives, had to fly, navigate and defend their aircraft. The expertise of each crew member could be very specific and even within the same aircraft his skills might be incomprehensible to his companions. The work of the Fleet Air Arm and Army air units are also covered, as are the roles of the ground-based staff who offered the support necessary for a successful mission.