Campus security manager turns military historian

A colleague’s lifelong passion for top secret work by RAF Fighter Command during World War II has culminated in a side career as a published author. 

Dilip Amin, the University’s Security Services Manager, has written Enemy Sighted, the first in a series of books uncovering secret RAF operations to keep the skies safe and change the course of the Second World War.  

Enemy Sighted tells the story of the Battle of Britain from an underground bunker in Uxbridge, home to Fighter Command’s 11 Group Operations Room. 

Talking about why he decided to write the book, Dilip said: “There are plenty of books on the Battle of Britain, and plenty that talk about Spitfires, Hurricanes, and radar, but none that I am aware of talking about Britain’s integrated air defence system as a whole.” 

Research for the book took Dilip to the Operations Room itself - where he regularly volunteers as a tour guide - the RAF museum in London, and the National Archives at Kew. He said: “Handling confidential wartime documents marked ‘Top Secret’ was thrilling. It made me feel like a time traveller.” 

While Dilip has been with the University for over a decade, he credits his earlier career in the Police with honing his skills to diligently research and present the facts in his book.  

Bringing the story to life

Dilip is already working on the next instalment, Enemy Engaged, which will go beyond the Battle of Britain and into the Blitz and operations in occupied France.  

“As an author I have come to realise that my work is an expression of me. I am sharing my thoughts, my opinions, sharing how my mind works, with people who I don’t know and am unlikely to ever meet. It’s a very personal thing that you choose to put yourself on public display. 

“As a tour guide, I try to bring the Bunker’s story to life. This way, I hope to honour not only the ‘few’ in their fighter aircraft, but also the ‘many’ men and women who helped put them there.” 


You can find out more about Enemy Sighted, published by Pen & Sword Books, as well as details of future talks by the author at www.dilipamin-author.com.  

Dilip leads guided tours of the bunker in Uxbridge every other Saturday. Tour times for September and October are now available on his website.