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Bomber Squadrons Of The Raf And Their Aircraft
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Book Synopsis Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. and Their Aircraft by : Philip J. R. Moyes
Download or read book Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. and Their Aircraft written by Philip J. R. Moyes and published by . This book was released on 1964 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Illustrated record of British Royal Air Force squadrons formed since the First World War, including those formed from Allied and Dominions personnel.
Book Synopsis No. 7 Bomber Squadron RAF in World War II by : Tom Docherty
Download or read book No. 7 Bomber Squadron RAF in World War II written by Tom Docherty and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2007-07-01 with total page 409 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the story of one of the RAF's oldest and most distinguished heavy bomber squadrons in WW2, although an outline history of the unit since it was formed in WW1 and its post-war history are included. It was the first operational Stirling Squadron, the RAF's first four engine heavy bomber, and flew the first long-distance raids into the heart of Nazi Germany. This new aircraft was a break-through in terms of range and bomb load but it was also an aircraft that suffered from many teething problems. Long-distance navigation was also a black art before the introduction of radio navigation systems and the squadron suffered many fatalities in those early wartime years. Having gained expertise in their task the unit was the first to be equipped with the H2S navigational aid and eventually became one of the original elite Pathfinder squadrons. When the Lancaster came into service the Squadron re-equipped and joined 8 Group and had the dubious reputation of suffering the third greatest loss of aircraft in Bomber Command. It did however participate in more Lancaster raids than any other 8 Group squadron.
Book Synopsis Fighter Squadrons of the R.A.F. and Their Aircraft by : John Dunstan Richard Rawlings
Download or read book Fighter Squadrons of the R.A.F. and Their Aircraft written by John Dunstan Richard Rawlings and published by . This book was released on 1978 with total page 572 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis The RAF Pathfinders by : Martyn Chorlton
Download or read book The RAF Pathfinders written by Martyn Chorlton and published by Mitchell Beazley. This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The formation of the Pathfinder Force in August 1942 produced a steady but certain change in the fortunes of Bomber Command. Its effectiveness against targets during the early years of the war had been very difficult to gauge. When examined in detail afterwards, aerial photographs showed that only one third of the aircraft were successfully reaching their target area and less than this were actually placing their bombs with target accuracy. It was known during the large-scale bombing of Coventry in the autumn of 1940 that the Germans had used an elite force of pathfinder aircraft, armed with incendiaries, who had acted as target finders for the main force of German bombers. What was now needed for the RAF were some similar specialist squadrons, with crews handpicked for their discipline, courage, high morale and, in particular, skills in a wider than normal range of flying jobs. Sidney Bufton, Deputy Director of Bomber Operations, developed the concept of a new Target Finding Force, and his tenacity in putting pressure upon senior Air Ministry staff to implement his ideas and bring Bomber Command out of the doldrums paid off. The new force was finally accepted and the choice of Don Bennett as its first Commander was inspired. Bennett was restless, imaginative, and receptive to change. He never accepted second best and he became a legend to all who served under him. Pathfinder Squadrons were equipped with the best available aircraft, which included the famous Lancaster bomber and later, increasingly, the Mosquito which was a hugely versatile and successful fighter bomber. To join a Pathfinder Squadron was a rare privilege but with it went a huge leap in the likelihood of being shot down. Pathfinder aircrew and aircraft had to lead the way for their following Bomber Force in hazardous raid after raid. They flew at night but it took a full 25 minutes to run the gauntlet of the Berlin defenses from end to end at full stretch. They were highly vulnerable to the wall of flak thrown up by German city defenders, as well as to attacks by night-fighters. By the end of the war some 56,000 crewmen of Bomber Command had lost their lives. Martyn Chorlton has written a gripping account of the RAF's Pathfinder Squadrons, recalling the challenges faced in the smoke-filled skies over occupied Europe. It is also a tribute to the brave young men whose exploits, lives and, in all too many cases, deaths have left a powerful torch to bear for all who care about freedom.
Book Synopsis Independent Force by : Keith Rennles
Download or read book Independent Force written by Keith Rennles and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In late 1916 and early 1917 the Royal Naval Air Service bombed Imperial Germany and whilst the attacks were not greatly successful they proved that targets could be reached inside the enemy. And when the Germans in turn started to bomb London in 1917, public opinion began to call for revenge attacks and plans were put in place. The Army and Navy for their part, wanted a resumption of attacks on Germany's war industries. General Smuts, a member of the War Cabinet, prepared a report whose main thrust was that a separate Air Ministry and Air Force should be set up, independent of the Army and Navy and that a strategic bomber force should be formed within this force, whose sole purpose was to attack Germany. Parliament approved in November 1917 and eventually the RAF was born in April 1918, and on 6 June the Independent Force was officially formed. Never before has a history of this force been written and Keith Rennles has patiently researched all documentary evidence and reports to piece together the day-by-day record of the IF's achievements and the tremendous contribution of its pilots and personnel. This is their story. Includes rare photographs. Essential reference for any student of 55, 99, 104 and 110 Squadrons.
Book Synopsis 1 Group Bomber Command by : Chris Ward
Download or read book 1 Group Bomber Command written by Chris Ward and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2014-06-18 with total page 439 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A history of the British Royal Air Force’s 1 Group Bomber Command during World War II. During the period immediately before the Second World War, the RAF modified its command structure to rationalize for rapid expansion. Bomber Command was divided into six operational groups, each flying the same type of aircraft, including Wellingtons, Sterlings, and Lancasters. Chris Ward presents us here with the history of 1 Group Bomber Command, having previously acquainted us with the histories of three, four, five, and six Groups in four highly acclaimed volumes, published by Pen and Sword. He continues with characteristic ease, quality of research, and narrative pace, to present us with an operational record of the group’s activities during a particularly dramatic period of aviation history. The book contains individual squadron statistics, their commanding officers, stations, and aircraft losses. It provides an exhaustive reference for one of the RAF’s most important operational groups.
Book Synopsis Bomber Squadron by : Martyn R. Ford-Jones
Download or read book Bomber Squadron written by Martyn R. Ford-Jones and published by Fonthill Media. This book was released on 2019-03-19 with total page 441 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: — Previously unpublished personal diaries reveal the day-to-day life of British aircrews during the Second World War, based on their personal diaries, which were written at the time — Revisiting a revised look at a popular out of print publication with fresh material such as new characters and chapters — Historically rich in detail with previously unpublished photographs of many of the characters involved — A welcome return of an updated version of a book first published over thirty years During the Second World War, thousands of young men volunteered for service with the RAF. Some became fighter pilots, but a great many more were destined to be trained as bomber aircrew – pilots, navigators, wireless operators, bomb aimers, gunners and flight engineers. On completion of their training, a number of these recruits were posted to XV Squadron, a highly-regarded frontline bomber squadron, which had been formed during the First World War. Bomber Squadron: Men Who Flew with XV Squadron relates the personal stories of a small number of these men, giving an insight to their anxious moments when flying on operational sorties, staring death in the face in the form of prowling night-fighters and ground fire, and relaxing during their off-duty hours. The book also reveals the motivations, emotions and personal attitudes of these men who flew into combat on an almost nightly basis. Their stories encompass the whole six years of the war where XV Squadron flew various bomber types, including Fairey Battles, Bristol Blenheims, Vickers Wellingtons, Short Stirlings and Avro Lancasters.
Book Synopsis Bomber Aircraft of 305 Squadron by : Lechosław Musiałkowski
Download or read book Bomber Aircraft of 305 Squadron written by Lechosław Musiałkowski and published by White. This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: History of this successful Polish bomber squadron during WW2. No. 305 'Weilkopolski' Squadron RAF was a Polish bomber squadron than originally served as a night bomber squadron, but later converted to daylight operations in 1943 and ended the war as a low-level bomber squadron. The book covers the history of the squadron and the history of the aircraft used - Vickers Welligton, B-25 Mitchell and de Havilland Mosquito. Also details of the markings and camouflage changes are described with many unpublished photos and color profiles.
Book Synopsis Bomber Command 1936-1968 by : Ken Delve
Download or read book Bomber Command 1936-1968 written by Ken Delve and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2005-09-29 with total page 311 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Book Synopsis Bombers over Sand and Snow by : Alun Granfield
Download or read book Bombers over Sand and Snow written by Alun Granfield and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2011-10-05 with total page 323 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 205 Group RAF provided the only mobile force of heavy night bombers in the Mediterranean theater in the Second World War. It operated mainly from bases in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Italy, with occasional excursions to Malta, Greece and Iraq, attacking tactical and strategic targets according to the demands of the wider war in the theater. The force was relatively small when compared with the numbers of aircraft available to Bomber Command in the Western European theater, and it carried on using the venerable Vickers Wellington long after this aircraft had been relegated to the training role in the United Kingdom.Like their UK-based counterparts the night bombers were intended to operate in a strategic role, bombing targets away from the immediate battlefront. However, the demands of the war in the Middle East and Mediterranean soon diverted the bombers from their strategic role and saw them operating much closer to the front line in support of the hard pressed ground forces.The bomber squadrons in North Africa usually operated from Advanced Landing Grounds scraped out of the bare desert, with only a few tents for shelter. In Italy they did have more or less permanent bases, but they still lived in tents (if they were lucky) often surrounded by a sea of mud. There were no pubs, often no beer, and the only contact with their families were the eagerly awaited letters from home. Also the squadrons in England did not have Rommel continually knocking on their door. Thus, the operations of the night bombers in the Middle East and Mediterranean were often governed by the general progress of the war in the theater. The ebb and flow of the land battles not only determined the activities of the night bombers, but also determined their location. This book tells their story.
Download or read book Bomber Offensive written by Arthur Harris and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2005-03-01 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sir Arthur Harris - Bomber Harris - remains the target of criticism and vilification by many, while others believe the contribution he and his men made to victory is grossly undervalued. He led the men of Bomber Command in the face of appalling casualties, had fierce disagreements with higher authority and enjoyed a complicated relationship with Winston Churchill. Written soon after the close of World War 2, this collection of Sir Arthur Harris's memoirs reveals the man behind the Allied bombing offensive that culminated in the destruction of the Nazi war machine but also many beautiful cities, including Dresden.
Book Synopsis Nothing Can Stop Us by : Simon Hepworth
Download or read book Nothing Can Stop Us written by Simon Hepworth and published by . This book was released on 2015-09-07 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The deeds and sacrifice of RAF Bomber Command's squadrons and aircrews in the Second World War are well-recorded. However, whilst there has been much focus on high profile units such as 617 Squadron (the 'Dambusters'), other units played a part in the war of attrition that was the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. The heroism of their crews was every bit as prevalent as the exploits in more celebrated squadrons and tales abound of unbelievable courage, ingenuity and sheer guts. 514 Squadron was one such unit. Its service life was only eighteen months but its contribution, and the sacrifice of its crews, was considerable. Over the course of 220 operations 514 Squadron's Lancasters dropped nearly fifteen thousand tons of bombs at a cost of 88 aircraft. 437 members of the squadron gave their lives in the cause of our freedom with many others suffering serious injuries. Once shot down, those who survived tried to walk, or in some cases swim, home. One 'played dead', lying in a makeshift grave for 36 hours then, having been rescued by his Resistance helpers, shot an SS officer who chanced upon him. Others joined the Resistance or otherwise made life as difficult as possible for the Nazis. Some were sent to Buchenwald concentration camp whilst at least one was murdered by his captor. One pilot, burned alive as he struggled to keep his Lancaster steady so his crew could escape, was turned down for a VC as he had dropped his bombs seconds before, rather than after, the aircraft was hit. Nothing Can Stop Us is the companion volume to Striking Through Clouds, the War Diary of 514 Squadron. It combines the official operational record with personal stories of many who served with the unit, collated by Harry Dison who served in the squadron as a Flight Engineer. It is illustrated with over 150 contemporary photographs, most of which have never previously been published. With the benefit of painstaking research, along with contributions from veterans and their families, it is the definitive history of 514 Squadron, its people and aircraft.
Book Synopsis Squadron Histories by : Peter M. H. Lewis
Download or read book Squadron Histories written by Peter M. H. Lewis and published by London : Putnam. This book was released on 1959 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Histories of all Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force squadrons formed over a period of forty seven years are in this volume ... As a valuable adjunct to the main section of squadron histories (including those formed during the last war from Commonwealth and Allied personnel) there are appendices giving details of squadron numbers; squadron titles; aircraft types supplied to squadrons or used for service trials and, where known, the first squadron to operate a particular type ; personnel, squadron and aircraft strengths ; Air Ministry specifications and airmen awarded the Victoria Cross ..."--Inside front cover
Book Synopsis 2nd Air Division Air Force USAAF 1942-45 by : Martin W. Bowman
Download or read book 2nd Air Division Air Force USAAF 1942-45 written by Martin W. Bowman and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2007-04-19 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As part of the AHT series, the airfields and interest in this book are concentrated in a particular area—in this case Norfolk and Suffolk. The Second Air Division's first bombing mission was flown on November 7, 1942; the last on April 25, 1945. A total of 95, 948 sorties were flown in 493 operational missions by the division's B-24s, dropping 199,883 tons of bombs. Targets attacked ranged from Norway in the north, as far east as Poland and Romania, while several Mediterranean countries were reached from temporary bases in North Africa. Six 2nd Air Division groups received special presidential citations for outstanding actions and five airmen received the Medal of Honor (highest US award for bravery), four posthumously. In combat the 2nd Air Division gunners claimed 1,079 enemy fighters destroyed against losses of 1,458 B-24s missing in action and many others lost in accidents. This book looks at the history and personalities associated with each base, what remains today and explores the favourite local wartime haunts where aircrew and ground crew would go.
Book Synopsis Searching for the Hudson Bombers by : James R. Stevens
Download or read book Searching for the Hudson Bombers written by James R. Stevens and published by Trafford Publishing. This book was released on 2004 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This exciting and unusual World War Two book contains the biographies of young men from the United States and Commonwealth Countries who flew through enemy infested skies in a civilian passenger plane known as the Hudson Bomber. The author portrays not only flyers but their families as they face the unfolding fates of their youngsters flying in Royal Air Force Coastal Command Squadrons. Much of the book is written from primary research material: personal diaries, log books, a large number of photographs and anxious letters home to parents and wives and friends. "Searching For The Hudson Bombers" rings loudly with authenticity of how World War Two impacted people at an intimate and personal level. Flying duties of these patriotic youth from America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are portrayed in a range of activities from over the North Sea to the Mediterranean. The Hudson air crews bomb shipping and search in all kinds of nasty weather for submarines, cover convoys and look for downed air craft. Sub themed in the text are the disappointing activities of politicians, corporations, financial institutions and religious bureaucracy. One will not find much grand strategy as planned by Presidents, Prime Ministers and Generals in, "Searching For The Hudson Bombers." This is a book about unheralded flyers who risked their lives each time they went aloft in a less than reliable aircraft, the Hudson Bomber. This intriguing and intensely researched work exposes the truly human side of one of history's most cataclysmic events. An excellent read!" Major General (Ret'd) Lewis W. MacKenzie OStJ,OOnt,MSC,CD. "Poignant stories of young men in the prime of life who risked their lives fighting for their countries." Ms.Lynn McLeod, B.A. M.L.S. Mississauga Public Library System "I spent many hours as navigator of a Hudson and I find the research done to compile this wonderfully researched volume to be absolutely mind-boggling. F/Lt. (O) Earle Briggs RAF 24/512 SQ's For further information on photographs of the Hudson flyers and the index to "Searching For The Hudson Bombers" go to www.hudsonbomber.com
Download or read book 101 Squadron written by CHRIS. WARD and published by . This book was released on 2017-09-12 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 101 Squadron has a long and glorious history, having been formed within the Royal Flying Corps in 1917. Transferred into the new Royal Air Force, the squadron disbanded after the Armistice. It was reformed in March 1928 and has remained in existence almost continuously ever since. Amongst numerous types, the squadron flew the Boulton-Paul Overstrand, introducing into RAF service the first powered gun turret. This achievement is commemorated in the squadron's official badge. Just before the outbreak of the Second World War, 101 Squadron re-equipped with the Bristol Blenheim, initially as a training and conversion unit. The war became real for the squadron after the fall of France, and it played a full part in the Battle of Britain, attacking enemy invasion barges and airfields, before moving into an anti-shipping role. The intensifying bombing war then occupied the squadron for the duration of hostilities. After eighteen months with the Wellington bomber, 101 Squadron found its weapon of choice, the mighty Lancaster. With this iconic aircraft, the unit became legendary. The Luftwaffe's night fighters were, by this time, becoming a lethal adversary and counter-measures were urgently needed if the bomber streams were to get through to their targets. 101 Squadron found its ultimate niche in the use of the highly-secret 'Airborne Cigar' (ABC) radio equipment, which allowed each aircraft so equipped to jam three German radio channels simultaneously. This had a very significant effect in reducing the capability of the defenders. 101 Squadron and its crews took part in every major campaign by Bomber Command, though this was inevitably at a high cost, with seven Lancasters out of twenty-six lost in a single night. The unit flew on more bombing raids than any other squadron in Bomber Command, but suffered the highest casualties, with 1176 airmen killed in action. Chris Ward's profile of 101 Squadron is a comprehensive history of the unit through World War Two and contains details of every aircraft operated between 1939 and 1945. The operational records are set in the context of the bombing campaign and leavened with personal stories. It is illustrated throughout with some 200 photographs, many never previously published, these having been provided by the 101 Squadron Association archives and private individuals, including the personal collection of Flight Lieutenant Rusty Waughman, DFC. This book is the definitive history of one of the RAF's most illustrious squadrons.
Book Synopsis Eagles of the RAF by : Philip D. Caine
Download or read book Eagles of the RAF written by Philip D. Caine and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 1994-07 with total page 428 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: U.S. citizens fought and died in WW II long before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Among them were the pilots of the Eagle Squadrons, three fighter squadrons of Britain's Royal Air Force manned by young U.S. flyers. This book tells how the Eagle squadrons were formed and summarizes the history of the units and evaluates their deeds, motivations, and contributions. Draws on interviews from more than 35 surviving Eagles, their letters and memoirs, and official records. Depicts their daily lives along with special heroes and amazing sacrifices. "An important contribution to the study of American involvement in WWII. Highly recommended."
