The aircraft, from left to right, are b17g nvp, serial number 448354, b17g nvu, serial number 4297288 nicknamed flag ship and an unknown b17g nve from the 325th bomb squadron. More than 56,000 british and commonwealth aircrew and 600,000 germans died in the course of the rafs attempt to win the war by bombing. The air ministrys account of bomber command s offensive against the axis september 1939 june 1941 size. Bomber command books from mention the war publications home. Chorley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It received a major slice of britains economic and technological resources, and many of its brightest and best. Raf bomber command during the second world war imperial war. It was the main reason that the men of bomber command did not get a campaign medal. Covers lancaster finishing schools, ferry flights and many others. Initially headquartered at raf mildenhall it moved to st. Books can be reserved, please see covid19 message on home page for details. Jun 05, 2009 it was the main reason that the men of bomber command did not get a campaign medal. But of late the issue of the effectiveness of strategic bombing has become a contested one in britain, and journalist hastings contribution to the debate is a crippling blow to the carefully constructed myth. Dec 16, 2014 don charlwoods and miles tripps books caused sensations when they were first published, giving a personal and very direct view of what life was like in bomber command at different times in the war.
The author gives us a concise but engaging history of operations before dissecting individual squadron efforts with a look at the service time of commanding officers, stats on achievement or otherwise and then a long and detailed list of individual aircraft histories. A fter almost 70 years, the 55,573 dead of raf bomber command are to be honoured in a prominent memorial at the western end of londons piccadilly. An operational record first edition by chris ward isbn. British, colonial, and dominion air forces with thanks to robert michel. This work, in hastings s characteristic prose, profiles the harrowing experiences of bomber command s aircrew from 1939 45, the entire. Us heavy conversion units and other miscellaneous units the 8th book in bills series detailing losses incurred by bomber command h. At its peak strength, 6 group consisted of 14 operational rcaf bomber squadrons and 15 squadrons served with the group. Bomber command is a game of the night war in the skies over the reich in world war ii. Mar 22, 2012 raf bomber command s offensive against the cities of germany was one of the epic campaigns of the second world war.
As the bomber stream crawls across the german reich, it is set upon by swarms of nightfighters. Every raf bomber command base in england mapped during the second world war bomber command flew more than 389,000 individual sorties. The group operated out of airfields in yorkshire, england. The raf split into bomber, fighter, coastal and training commands. Chris ward is a respected historian who has specialised in bomber command history, especially 5 group, of which 617 was a member. A solidly researched book giving us masses of information about the squadrons and aircraft of 4 group of bomber command. In the centre are pilot hugh roper and gunner earl lemoine. Oct 16, 2008 the book carries on in the same vein as their previous two books on bomber command those being 5 group bomber command and 6 group bomber command, and i eagerly look forward to seeing 4 group bomber command appear in the near future. B17 flying fortresses of the 92nd bomb group fly in formation over countryside. Raf bomber command was created in 1936 and comprised the rafs light and heavy bomber squadrons. Raf bomber command deserves to be remembered with honesty. Chris ward presents us here with the history of 1 group bomber command, having previously acquainted us with the histories of 3, 4, 5, and 6 groups in four highly acclaimed volumes, published by pen.
Over the course of the war, it developed from a limited and relatively ineffective force into a weapon of immense destructive power. Don charlwoods and miles tripps books caused sensations when they were first published, giving a personal and very direct view of what life was like in bomber command at different times in the war. The backbone of bomber command from 1939 until 1942 was the wellington bomber which equipped no 455 squadron. Bomber command books from mention the war publications, merthyr tydfil. Bomber command books is a community site from mention the war publications, a specialist in publishing and selling. Royal air force bomber command losses by w r chorley. In june the australian governments department of veterans affairs released a book called bomber command. Sep 23, 20 bomber command s air offensive against the cities of nazi germany was one of the most epic campaigns of world war ii.
Upon publication, bomber command, winner of the somerset maugham prize, attracted controversy but today is widely considered a classic account of one of the longest and bloodiest campaigns of world war ii. It details the squadrons, bases and personalities of this famous. Hello, i also noticed this new book and was wondering about it, as did alain we both have an interest in no. It was supported by hampdens which equipped no 458 squadron and whitleys but it was decided in early 1942 to replace the hampdens and whitleys with four engined bombers which could carry twice the bombload of a medium bomber. Bomber command books is the sales site for mention the war ltd.
I read it in preparation for an upcoming trip to lincolnshire, where there is a museum on bomber command. An operational record first edition by ward, chris isbn. Raf bomber commands offensive against the cities of germany was one of the epic campaigns of the second world war. The red line by john nichol serving with bomber command in the second world war was to sign up for a near suicide mission. I am very cynical of fresh take books often they are only published if they take a controversial.
Hastings has a particular skill at weaving together the different aspects of a war such that one can see both the broad max hastings is arguably the top british war historian working today. Oct 27, 2012 in june the australian governments department of veterans affairs released a book called bomber command. Us for the complete ww2 period and beyond from 1939 1947. May 19, 2015 bomber command moved to its new headquarters near high wycombe early in 1940. The history of 514 squadron raf 514 squadron served in the rafs no. A 5 group squadron commander on sir arthur bomber harris march 1944.
Much of the information on the lack of accuracy and the success of the germans at dispersing production are already in the public domain. Bomber commands air offensive against the cities of nazi germany was one of the most epic campaigns of world war ii. Bomber command moved to its new headquarters near high wycombe early in 1940. This is a dry book for any outsider but if your relatives were in the 6 group bomber command and you want to know what their war was like this is the book you have to have for yourselves and your grandchildren. As part of the aht series, the airfields and interest in this book are concentrated in a particular area in this case norfolk. A page dedicated to all who served in bomber command no. The book carries on in the same vein as their previous two books on bomber command those being 5 group bomber command and 6 group bomber command, and i eagerly look forward to seeing 4 group bomber command appear in the near future. Jun 22, 2012 a fter almost 70 years, the 55,573 dead of raf bomber command are to be honoured in a prominent memorial at the western end of londons piccadilly. Every raf bomber command base in england mapped telegraph. Bomber command also gained two new groups during the war. The air ministrys account of bomber commands offensive against the axis september 1939 june 1941 size. It was not until 1942 that bomber command gained a real sense of direction, with the advent of air marshal arthur bomber harris. Its commanderinchief, sir edgar ludlowhewitt, moved into a centre that had direct communications with all bomber groups and stations in great britain.
Air vice marshal d c t bennettaoc 8 pff group, 19435 his technical knowledge and his personal operational ability were altogether exceptional. This book contains a full quotation of the two paragraphs quoted here, and cites the source as albert speer. Returning to bomber command at the beginning of march 1943, the squadron flew with no. Raf bomber command during the second world war imperial. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Brought the experiences close at hand and made me appreciate the role of the craf in the bomber command. About australians in the uk bomber command 1939 1945. He has had access to wartime records and exsquadron personnel. He also had direct communications with fighter command and the air ministry. An operational record 1st edition by chris ward isbn. Launched at the australian war memorial in the presence of three bomber command veterans, its dvas second book in a series looking at australians and their experiences in world war ii the first looked at greece and crete. Among the strongest images of world war ii is that of waves of allied bombers striking at the heart of germany, reducing german cities to rubble and destroying the german will to fight. Bomber command was divided into six operational groups, each flying the same type of aircraft, including wellingtons, sterlings, and lancasters. In 1939 there were 6 groups in bomber command, 5 no 2 gp to no 6 gp the united kingdom and a sixth advanced air striking force aasf in france.
A bomber crew of the 93rd bomb group don their flight gear before a mission, flying a b24 liberator 4123717 nicknamed exterminator. Jan 01, 1979 bomber command was one of his first books. Yates book came out somewhat later, but was, and is, remarkable for a first book written at the age of 77. Vincents house in grantham in oct 1937, then to morton hall in morton, near swinderby, in nov 1943, and had sir arthur harris as cinc. This book gives a very detailed overview of the least written about group in bomber command. Raf bc rudder recognition markingsrafcommands archive. After a short period of operations from raf foulsham, the squadron transferred to its permanent home at raf waterbeach, cambridgeshire, in december 1943, some aircraft travelling from the old base to the new via a raid on berlin. It provides the reader with a myriad of facts and the opportunity to compare the records of a single squadron with another. Harris was appointed as commander in chief of bomber command in february 1942, with a mandate to begin attacking german industry, much of which was located in large cities. Group bomber command by chris wardrafcommands archive.
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