The data here is very useful to students of the british. Raf bomber command aircrew of world war ii wikipedia. By february 1942, when arthur harris took over bomber command, the british high command was committed to a policy of area bombing of german cities. It was an attempt to win the war in europe by strategic bombing on such an enormous scale that historians have only recently begun to piece together the finer details of the individual raids.
The aircrews of raf bomber command during world war ii operated a fleet of bomber aircraft carried strategic bombing operations from september 1939 to may 1945, on behalf of the allied powers. The crews of bomber command are often described as the bravest of the brave. Bomber command history library, part 1 military history, ch. In 1908, hg wells, in his book the war in the air, had prophesied that. Nice aerial footage done in gorgeous technicolor is another positive feature of dive bomber. The crews were men from the united kingdom, other commonwealth countries, and occupied europe, especially poland, france, czechoslovakia and norway, as. Royal air force bomber command losses of the second world war 1941 volume.
My great grandfather was an auxiliary fireman during the blitz and signed up for the raf sometime in 1942. One other thing, leading lady alexis smith met and married her husband craig stevens on the set of this film. The central focus of the study is the large and largely unrecognized contribution to the success of bomber command made by scientists of. The year saw raf fighter command claim some 711 luftwaffe fighters shot down although only 236 were lost from all causes, 103 in combat for losses of approximately 400 raf fighters lost. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Raf bomber command during the second world war imperial war. Bomber command books is a community site from mention the war publications, a specialist in publishing and selling. Buy bomber command the air ministry account of bomber commands offensive against the axis september 1939 july 1941.
I thought one reason might have been because there were few bombing raids. This change in policy reflected recognition of the fact that bomber command was unable to protect itself from enemy fighters and flak by day and it could not bomb accurately at night. In 1941, over france, a shot down pilot would, as likely as not, end up a prisoner of war. The odds on them returning safely were frighteningly low. Bomber command losses 2728 june 1941rafcommands archive. 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. The book was published in 1941 by his majestys stationery office. On 7 november 1941, sir richard peirse, head of raf bomber command, launched a large raid on berlin, sending over 160 bombers to the capital. Bomber command, 1939 1941 and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The numerous reminiscences some quite extensive really bring bomber command s night war to vivid life. Over 55,000 of a total of 125,000 aircrew were kia, a 44% death rate.
Bomber command the early war years for those interested in the history of british military aviation, the 1941 edition of bomber command, published by the air ministry, is now available as a kindle book. In total 364,514 operational sorties were flown, 1,030,500 tons of bombs were dropped and 8,325 aircraf. It also covers the air ministry s attacks on german naval targets and on german land targets. Bomber command by max hastings goodreads share book. Great savings free delivery collection on many items. This book examines the contribution of raf bomber commands operational research section to the strategic bombing offensive. Bomber command book in collectable wwii military books for. The following account of early raf nickel raids in the second world war is taken from chapter 4 white bombs. Life and death in bomber command imperial war museums.
Description of a bomber command raid on germany, showing the general preparations beforehand, the raid itself from the viewpoint of f for freddie and. Our growing list of titles focuses on the aircraft, squadrons and above all the men and women who shaped the legend that endures to this day. We specialise in publishing and selling books about raf bomber command in the second world war and related topics. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I read it in preparation for an upcoming trip to lincolnshire, where there is a museum on bomber command. Royal air force bomber command losses of the second world war. This edition includes retrospective observations and a new appendix. Can anyone help me with information on the place of crash, time of crash and cause of loss of the following bomber command aircraft, all on the 2728 june 1941 bremen raid the info in chorleys 1941 vol. Bomber command losses 1941 his second book in the series detailing losses incurred by bomber command for 1941. In his book bomber offensive, published in 1947, marshal of the royal air force sir arthur harris wrote that all the credit for preventing the invasion of britain had been given to fighter command.
Bomber command had abandoned daylight bombing in favour of night bombing early in the war because of unacceptable losses. For example, the germans could have been dealt a crushing blow had the schwinefurt ballbearing raid with another immediate raid. The air ministry account of bomber commands offensive against the axis september, 1939 july, 1941. Both volumes are good additions to the literature on the raf and especially bomber command at war. The appointment, on 23 february 1942, of air chief marshall arthur harris was to change the course of the strategic bombing campaign and, under his leadership, bomber command was forged into a. Bomber command books mention the wars online book store. Mar 17, 2017 my own particular interests focus on intelligence and understanding the japanese attack on pearl harbor, a subject that i have researched since age twelve. Bomber command, 19391941 and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. All in date order, aircraft type, serial number and circumstances of the loss. Jan 01, 1979 a brilliant study of the rafs bomber command and their campaign in world war ii. The i bomber command was an intermediate command of the army air forces during world war ii.
The crews were men from the united kingdom, other commonwealth countries, and occupied europe, especially poland, france, czechoslovakia and norway, as well as other foreign volunteers. Along with the united states army air forces, it played the central role in the strategic bombing of germany in world war ii. 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. Buy bomber command book in collectable wwii military books and get the best deals at the lowest prices on ebay.
Bomber command by max hastings nook book ebook barnes. Buy bomber command book in collectable wwii military books and get the best. Armstrong composition and prepress production mary p. The air ministry account of bomber command s offensive against the axis, september, 1939 july, 1941.
Bomber command history library, part 1 military history. About australians in the uk bomber command 1939 1945. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Night after night they flew into the dark and smokefilled skies of the continent. It trained bombardment units and aircrews for deployment to combat theaters. Bomber command continues, staple bound soft cover, 1942, 56 pp. Memories of bomber command are unusual in being both complex and volatile. From eyewitness statements it is reported that the bomber, with one engine ablaze, passed low over the village of lanildut finistere, nw of brest, pursued by a fighter which in turn was shot. In 1939 there were 6 groups in bomber command, 5 no.
This work, in hastingss characteristic prose, profiles the harrowing experiences of bomber command s aircrew from 193945, the entire length of the air war of europe, as well as the controversy surrounding the development and implementation of area bombing. The command was activated again for a brief period in 1943, again as a bomber training command, locate. Bomber commands campaign started on the very first day of the second world war and ended within a few hours of the final victory in europe five and a half years later. Covering 1,515 bomber command individual losses later revisions may hold more detailing losses from the period. At the end of 1941 bomber command reckoned that it was losing six.
The air war fought by bomber command was long, varied and brutal. Bomber command 1941 book britains bomber crews air ministry. Over the course of the war, it developed from a limited and relatively ineffective force into a weapon of immense destructive power. Bomber command reflections of war and millions of other books are. Bomber command books is the sales site for mention the war ltd. The pilots body was later washed ashore at flekkero near kristiansand, but no trace of his two comrades was ever found and their sacrifice is commemorated on the runnymede memorial. Stevens was a contract player doing secondary roles for warner brothers. Bomber command handbook, by jonathan falconer, sutton publishing ltd. An operational reference book 19391945 reprint by middlebrook, martin, everitt, chris isbn. The squadron operated as part of bomber commands main force from 24 june 1941 until the end of the war. Issued for the air ministry by the ministry of information. Bomber command moved to its new headquarters near high wycombe early in 1940. Volume 2 1941 amendments and additions volpage unitserial additionamendment to search within this page use crtlf. Chewed, dogeared and ripped as seen in photographs.
Its commanderinchief, sir edgar ludlowhewitt, moved into a centre that had direct communications with all bomber groups and stations in great britain. It received a major slice of britains economic and technological resources, and many of its brightest and best. Bombing the european axis powers a historical digest of the combined bomber offensive 19391945 air university press team chief editor carole arbush copy editor sherry c. Jun 25, 2018 the rafs victory over the luftwaffe during the battle of britain in the summer of 1940 made a german invasion of britain all but impossible. The air ministry account of bomber commands offensive against the axis, september, 1939july, 1941, published by his majestys stationery office, london, 1941, pages 30 to 34. Bomber commands air offensive against the cities of nazi germany.
He air ministry account of bomber commands offensive against the axis september 1939 july 1941. Buy raf bomber command losses of the second world war. Noteworthy are the intelligence failures of both bomber command and the u. Bomber command books from mention the war publications, merthyr tydfil. Make offer a 1939 to 1941 book called bomber command. I am doing some research on the psychology of joining bomber command and was wondering if anyone could help. From shortly after the attack on pearl harbor until its assets were transferred to army air forces antisubmarine command in october 1942, it conducted antisubmarine warfare off the atlantic and gulf coasts of the united states. For richard overy, whose first book on the subject appeared in 1980. Formation of the royal air force responsible for all bombing activites. On 9 july 1941, bomber command received a formal directive which defined its main aim as dislocating the german transportation system and destroying the morale of the civilian population as a whole and of industrial workers in particular. Bomber command books from mention the war publications. From 1942 onward, the british bombing campaign against germany became less restrictive and increasingly targeted industrial sites and the civilian manpower base essential for german war production. The central focus of the study is the large and largely unrecognized contribution to the success of bomber command made by scientists of the ors.
Bomber command book in collectable wwii military books for sale. Bomber command the air ministry account of bomber commands offensive against the axis 1941. From 1942 onward, the british bombing campaign against germany became less restrictive and increasingly targeted industrial sites and the civilian. The bomber command war diaries, an operational reference book, 19391945. Bomber command books from mention the war publications home.
Raf bomber command controlled the rafs bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. He also had direct communications with fighter command and the air ministry. An operational reference book, 19391945, books 19391945 martin middlebrook, chris everitt midland, 1996 world war, 19391945 808 pages. Bowmans raf bomber command books are a superbly researched and written series of volumes telling the story of the royal air forces bomber command during world war ii. This thoroughly researched and highly detailed book traces the sixyear transition of britains bomber command from a small and illequipped handful of squadrons in 1939 into a numerically and technologically superior weapon of war by 1945. It was issued for the air ministry by the ministry of information. From 1942 onward, the british bombing campaign against germany became less restrictive and increasingly targeted industrial sites and the civilian manpower base essential for german war. Raf bomber command was created in 1936 and comprised the rafs light and heavy bomber squadrons. Apr 02, 2014 little of this material had been published previously, and never before had the two sides of bomber command s war been brought together in this way. By the end of 1941, the fortunes of bomber command were at an ebb with the increasing effectiveness of german defences causing unacceptable losses. May 09, 2012 description of a bomber command raid on germany, showing the general preparations beforehand, the raid itself from the viewpoint of f for freddie and the mounting anxiety at the station when the. A brilliant study of the rafs bomber command and their campaign in world war ii. The bomber command war diaries has become the standard basic work of reference on this extraordinary campaign. The rafs victory over the luftwaffe during the battle of britain in the summer of 1940 made a german invasion of britain all but impossible.
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. Though the number of newer ac such as the halifax and lanc was growing, other squadrons were still operating wimpeys and even whitleys. Raf bomber command controlled the raf s bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. Bomber commands air offensive against the cities of nazi germany was one of the most epic campaigns of world war ii. Bomber command 1941 book britains bomber crews air. Covering 1,515 bomber command individual losses later revisions may hold more detailing losses from the period of 1941. This book tells the story of the defense of the british homeland, 1939 1941.