This is a comprehensive reference to the structure, operation, aircraft and men of Bomber Command from its formation on 1936 to 1968 when it became part of Strike Command. It includes descriptions of many notable bombing raids, the many types of aircraft used, weapons and airfields. The five main sections of the book include a general historical introduction and overview, operations, operational groups, aircrew training and technical details of each aircraft type. Lengthy Annexes cover personnel. the squadrons in World War II, accuracy of attacks, orders of battle for each wartime year, maps of airfields locations, tonnage of bombs dropped and nuclear weapons carried in the post-war years.
The role of RAF Bomber Command in the Allies' fight against Hitler's 'Fortress Europe' is still the subject of much controversy. Yet, whatever one's view of the campaign as a whole, nobody can question the immense courage and bravery of the aircrews who risked their lives, day after day, night after night. As history recalls, more than 55,000 men made the ultimate sacrifice during the fight for freedom. Bomber Command was officially formed in 1936, but as the 1930s gave way to the 1940s, it soon became clear that the Command could not match the might of a resurgent Germany on the march. The early years of the Second World War highlighted Bomber Command's inadequacies, but gradually the tide was turned. Vast aerial armadas of bombers took the fight to Hitler while increased accuracy, larger weapons and more effective tactics were developed which enabled RAF Bomber Command, in conjunction with the US 8th Air Force, to pound the heartland of Germany into final submission. Peacetime brought the inevitable cutbacks and a proud force was whittled down to a shadow of its former self. However, re-equipment with a potent force of V-bombers meant that Bomber Command was able to play a key role in the 'Cold War', and when the Command was disbanded in 1968 its supporters could rightly claim that it had been a major contributor to maintaining the peace. Here, for the first time, the story of Bomber Command is told from start to finish. Meticulous research by aviation historian Chris Ashworth offers a unique insight into the history of a force that was at the heart of the RAF's fighting prowess for some three decades.
Beretter om den historiske udvikling inden for det britiske flyvevåbens "Fighter Command" gennem perioden 1936-1968, og beskriver bl.a. doktriner, organisation, opgaver, materiel og personel.
With its impressive breadth of coverage – both geographically and chronologically – the International Encyclopedia of Military History is the most up-to-date and inclusive A-Z resource on military history. From uniforms and military insignia worn by combatants to the brilliant military leaders and tacticians who commanded them, the campaigns and wars to the weapons and equipment used in them, this international and multi-cultural two-volume set is an accessible resource combining the latest scholarship in the field with a world perspective on military history.
This work examines the evolution of the RAF's operational requirements for its home defence air force - for bombers to mount a deterrent counter offensive and for fighters to provide direct defence of Britain. It discusses the management processes, policies and decisions relevant to operational requirements on the basis of a detailed study of Air Ministry papers of the time. By tracing the development of operational requirements, the author exposes the thinking behind the RAF's quest for effective fighter and bomber aircraft. He describes the ideas and concepts of air warfare that were adopted in the 1920s, and shows how these evolved into the Air Staff's requirements for the aircraft which the RAF entered and fought in World War II.
As a result of the Allied bombing campaign against Nazi submarine bases during the Second World War, the cities of Brest, Lorient, and Saint Nazaire were nearly completely destroyed. Despite thousands of bombing missions, all three submarine bunkers still stand today. This monograph examines the effectiveness of the Allied bombing campaign against German submarine bases in Brittany by analyzing the campaign through the use of a design methodology. Research is broken down into three frames: the operational approach, the operational environment and the problem frame. The first frame provides an account of the bombing missions and effects. Next, an overview of the operational environment is conducted by exploring the historical context of Brittany, German construction efforts and Allied institutional barriers. The study concludes by examining the problem frame, which entails how the Allies perceived their operational problem and developed an approach based on their understanding. Ultimately, the Allies failed to accurately identify their problem and developed an ineffective approach towards defeating the threat. Had the Allies incorporated design thinking into their planning and execution, they may have developed an effective campaign towards defeating the Nazi U-boat threat rather than solving the wrong problem.
A dramatic and vividly rendered account of the most successful RAF bomber of the Second World War - the Avro Lancaster - and the lives of the men and women who flew, designed, constructed, maintained it.
