On Sunday, 18 August 1940, the Luftwaffe launched three major air assaults against targets in southern England. In the course of these and numerous smaller actions, 100 German and 136 British aircraft were destroyed or damaged in the air or on the ground. On no other day during the battle of Britain would either side suffer a greater number of aircraft put out of action. This book describes the events of that 24-hour period. - Introduction.

Includes index.

Introduction -- Author's note -- Prologue -- Sunday 18 August 1940 -- The lunchtime engagement -- The Stukas strike -- The weather the victor -- 18 August summed up -- What the papers said -- With hindsight -- Postscript : How this book came to be written -- The witnesses -- Appendixes. Equivalent ranks -- Aircraft strengths and locations of units of Air Fleets 2, 3 and 5 and the Luftwaffe High Command Reconnaissance Gruppe, 17 August 1940 -- Aircraft strengths and locations of units of Fighter Command, 17 August 1940 -- Luftwaffe intelligence appreciation of Fighter Command, 17 August 1940 -- British combat losses, 18 August 1940 -- German combat losses, 18 August 1940.