A recognized expert in aviation evaluates the air campaign conducted in France in 1940, explaining why the Luftwaffe was so effective against the French and the British. The battle for France and Belgium was one of the most significant moments in modern military history: the first major clash of modern great powers, where both sides had large and capable air forces and modern combined arms doctrine. In the air, the Germans had a significant advantage in both numbers and quality. However, this does not fully explain the victory of the Luftwaffe over the RAF and the French Air Force in 1940. In this book, renowned aviation scholar James S. Corum offers an operational level history of the air campaign, clearly explaining how the campaign was conducted and why the Luftwaffe utilized its air forces so effectively. He explains the importance of air force leadership and combat doctrine, as well as aspects of the campaign that are often overlooked, such as the dysfunctional organization that kept hundreds of French aircraft out of the fight, and the pioneering use of German radio officers who provided the first "call" direct air support system. Researched from French, British, and German primary sources, and illustrated throughout with artwork, 3D diagrams, maps, and photographs, this book captures decades of the author's academic study in a substantive guide to aviation during the fall of France.