Fire by Night Book

A fascinating look at the WWI air war over Britain precipitated by German bomber raids. The impact of the raids on the psyche of the British people led to the build up of the British bomber fleet (almost at the expense of the fighters) which came back to haunt the German people in WWII with the crushing bombing raids inflicted on them. The development of the bombers and the defensive measures against them was most interesting.
What I found most interesting - chillingly prescient even, were some of the quotes the author used as chapter headings. How could they have known or had the vision?

The time will come, when thou shalt lift thine eyes
To watch a long-drawn battle in the skies.
While aged peasants, too amazed for words,
Stare at the flying fleets of wondrous birds.
England, so long mistress of the sea,
Where winds and waves caress her sovereignty
Her ancient triumphs yet on high shall bear,
And reign, the sovereign of the conquered air.

Translated from Luna Habitabilis by Thomas Gray (1716-71)

"But what would be the security of the good if the bad could at pleasure invade them from the sky? Against an army sailing through the clouds neither walls, mountains, nor seas could afford security. A flight of northern savages might hover in the wind and light with irresistible violence upon the capital of a fruitful reason. Even this valley, the retreat of princes, the abode of happiness, might be violated by the sudden descent of some of the naked nations that swarm on the coast of the southern sea!" - Samuel Johnson (1759)