Raf bomber command during the second world war imperial. By the end of 1941, the fortunes of bomber command were at an ebb with the increasing effectiveness of german defences causing unacceptable losses. During 1943, american bombers had suffered unsustainable losses in their daylight attacks against the german aircraft industry. The raf bomber command ww2 casualty statistics require careful consideration, hence the inclusion of bill chorleys. Bomber command was divided into six operational groups, each flying the same type of aircraft, including wellingtons, sterlings, and lancasters. It has already found favour with historians, and those friends and relatives affected by the loss.
Bomber command books from mention the war publications. An increasing flow of canadians, australians and new zealanders meant that one in four aircrew came from the dominions. A page dedicated to all who served in bomber command no. Those who have any of those books will be familiar with the format losses are listed in calendar order, and by unit. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war, wr chorley. Raf bomber command controlled the rafs bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war, wr. List of pages relating to 19391945 aircrew remembered site.
All in date order, aircraft type, serial number and circumstances of the loss. There are a few marksnotes to the interior and some personal notes to the title page. Bomber command books from mention the war publications april 7 just published volume two of w r chorleys royal air force and australian flying corps squadron losses covers the last few months of the great war 1st july to 11th november 1918. After suffering devastating losses in the early stages of the second world war, the united kingdoms royal air force established an operational research section within bomber command in order to drastically improve the efficiency of bombing missions targeting germany. About australians in the uk bomber command 1939 1945. Chorley is the author of royal air force bomber command losses of the second world war 5. Royal air force bomber command losses of the second world. This edition includes retrospective observations and a new appendix. Telling the stories of jews who fought in bomber command. The 1939 losses and those whilst the squadron were in france as part of the aasf are already listed separately on the 103 squadron fairey battle losses.
Synopsis this is the fifth release in a series that provides a comprehensive insight into all aspects of raf bomber command in world war two. The international bomber command centre during wwii over a million men and women served or supported bomber command. The americans joined bomber command s air offensive in 1942. The nine volumes in this series, many of which have been reprinted over the years, provide a comprehensive listing of all bomber command aircraft losses between 1939 and 1947 in the european theatre of operations, along with information about the fate of the aircrew on board each individual aircraft. We specialise in publishing and selling books about raf bomber command in the second world war and related topics. Royal air force bomber command losses of the second world war. Bomber commands losses bomber command museum of canada.
Click download or read online button to get bomber command book now. Raf bomber command aircrew of world war ii wikipedia. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. But in the spring of 1944 allied escort fighters gained superiority over the luftwaffe, which meant bomber command could also begin operating in daylight again. The bomber war was fought largely by young, civilian volunteers from britain and the commonwealth, commanded by men who joined up before the second world war. This is the penultimate volume in the the bomber command losses series. May 19, 2015 bomber command moved to its new headquarters near high wycombe early in 1940. The number of losses recorded in this volume will be somewhere in the region of 1,700. Royal air force bomber command losses of the second world war 1945 by chorley, w r and a great selection of related books, art and. After suffering devastating losses in the early stages of the second world war, the united kingdoms royal air force established an operational research section within bomber command in order to drastically.
Raf bomber command during the second world war imperial war. This book examines the contribution of raf bomber commands operational research section to the strategic bombing offensive. Bomber command itself soon fully joined in the action. The vast majority of aircrew were in their late teens or early twenties. The series of which this book is volume 5, covers all bomber command losses during wwii, and to my knowledge is the most comprehensive, and possibly the only one of its kind. Originating in 60 nations across the world, they were united in their efforts to protect the freedom we enjoy today. It provides one of the most comprehensive record of these losses in the world.
The history of 514 squadron raf 514 squadron served in the rafs no. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war by wr chorley amendments and additions, to be used in conjunction with the royal air force bomber command losses of the second world war 9 volume series from ian allan publishing. History of bomber command international bomber command centre. There are also two pages of notes laidin as well as the original invoice for the purchase of the book. Rereading bomber command makes it easy to understand why the book was so enthusiastically received by buffs when first published in 1979.
If you are new to this site, you may want to start your journey at our homepage. In total, this book provides information on almost 2,400 losses. 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. Brand new softcover covering heavy conversion units and miscellaneous units from 1939 to 1947, this is the 8th volume in the raf bomber command losses series. 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. Bomber commands losses the successes of bomber command were purchased at terrible cost. Every target is described, the number and types of planes that attacked each target and the losses bomber command sufffered attacking each target. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Of the 7,953 bomber command aircraft lost on night operations during the second world war, an estimated 5,833 fell victim to luftwaffe night fighters. This current page is one of a number of listing pages which our system creates automatically to help you find relevant material by showing all pages that are linked in some specific way. Pdf raf bomber command losses of the second world war. How bomber command helped win the battle of britain 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. Bomber command books is the sales site for mention the war ltd.
Loss summaries are chronological and then by squadron. Chorley author of royal air force bomber command losses. Buy raf bomber command losses of the second world war. 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. Of every 100 airmen who joined bomber command, 45 were killed, 6 were seriously wounded, 8 became prisoners of war, and only 41 escaped unscathed at least physically. Raf bomber command project gutenberg selfpublishing. History of bomber command international bomber command. This book is the first of two volumes covering the bomber command s losses in the middle east and mediterranean during the war. 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. If you want to know what bombers were lost on a particular day, or from a particular squadron, or attacking a particular target, this is what you need. He was among the first to declare that the british and later american bombing campaigns might have achieved their objective. This was much less public than the battles of the spitfires and hurricanes of raf fighter command but still vital and dangerous work. He also had direct communications with fighter command and the air ministry. This book is the first of two volumes covering the bomber commands losses in the middle east and mediterranean during the war.
Covering 1,515 bomber command individual losses later revisions may hold more detailing losses from the period. 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. Chorley notes the aircraft, serial number, code markings, target, crew makeup and a. They came from 62 nations across the world and were united in their efforts to protect the freedom we enjoy today. The service included aircrew, ground crew, womens auxiliary air force, auxiliary air transport, auxiliary transport services, naafi and others. Bomber command losses 1941 his second book in the series detailing losses incurred by bomber command for 1941. You can also visit our site map for a comprehensive view of everything on this site in a single window. A brand new quality book from a fulltime veteran owned bookshop in. The nine volumes in this series, many of which have been reprinted over the years, provide a comprehensive listing of all bomber command aircraft losses between 1939 and 1947 in the european theatre of operations, along with information about the fate. A total of 57,205 members of raf bomber command or airmen flying on attachment to raf bomber command were killed or posted missing in world war ii. The international bomber command centre losses database records the details of 57,861 bomber command deaths during wwii. Pdf raf bomber command losses of the second world war 1944.
Raf bomber command losses of the second world war w. Chorley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This is the fourth volume in the series which deals with the losses sustained by the raf bomber command during the 2nd world war. Life and death in bomber command imperial war museums. The service included aircrew, ground crew, womens auxiliary air force, auxiliary air transport, auxiliary transport services. During wwii, more than a million men and women served, or supported, bomber command. In this detailed reenactment of the air war over western europe and the raids flown by the men of raf bomber command, the author has pieced together official data and the words and memories of.
The americans joined bomber commands air offensive in 1942. Its commanderinchief, sir edgar ludlowhewitt, moved into a centre that had direct communications with all bomber groups and stations in great britain. 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. The database for the archive was initially created by searching through w. Chorleys bomber command losses series of books for typical jewish names and henry morriss book we will remember them, a record of the jews who died in the armed forces 19391945. 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. 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. 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 download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Along with the united states army air forces, it played the central role in the strategic bombing of germany in world war ii. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war, v. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war roll of honour 193947 amendments and additions volume 9, appendix 1 casualty statistics, p484. Royal air force bomber command losses of the second world war book. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war, vol. This book follows on from an epic 8part series on bomber command losses in europe, extending the coverage to the mediterranean theatre. Max hastings writes with a sure hand, and the depth of his research was groundbreaking at the time. This is the third volume in the series which deals with the losses sustained by the raf bomber command during the 2nd world war.
Hewitts initial database was created using wr chorleys book raf bomber command losses, looking for typical jewish names and henry morris we will remember them, which records jews. 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. It begins in late september 1944 when the allied bomber offensive was at its height, and takes us through to the end of the conflict. An operational reference book 19391945 reprint by middlebrook, martin, everitt, chris isbn. The bomber command war diaries has become the standard basic work of reference on this extraordinary campaign.