Book Review Bomber Crew
April 5th 2007 09:12
Hi everyone
I have just finished reading Bomber Crew by James Taylor, synopsis as follows:
Long after the Battle of Britain, the aircrews of RAF Bomber Command risked their lives night after night during the Second World War. Over 55,000 of the airmen never returned from these missions; a further 10,000 became prisoners of war. And yet Bomber Command has been mired in controversy and its veterans - all volunteers - have never been awarded a campaign medal. Their crucial contribution to the outcome of the war has all too often been overlooked. Bomber Crew exposes the bravery of these men using gripping first-person testimony from the surviving pilots and crew. For them this was a time of incredible hardship and adrenaline, courage and friendship, and their stories bear witness to the strength of the human spirit in times of incredible danger. Never before has their story been so vividly told. This is also a revealing look at the history of Bomber Command itself, from the early days through to eventual victory in 1945. From the terrifying action of the bombing raids to the intimate personal accounts of heroism, tragedy and triumph, this is the ultimate account of these brave men and their contribution to the Allied victory. (net sourced)
Avro Lancaster
Now this was a really good book to read, as it made you realise just how brave the aircrew were, especially in the early years of the war, flying outdated planes against strong German defences, resulting in a high loss rate of men and machines. To read in their own words what it was like, was almost humbling really as even in the later years, the losses were still high and the chances of completing the required 30 missions that was a tour of duty, was very slim indeed.
And to think what it must have been like to take off knowing that it was a 10hr return journey to Berlin and back, having to run the gauntlet of flak, search lights, night fighters and with the thoughts 'Will I see Blighty again?' I found the book well written and as it's basically in the words of the men who fought during that time, I felt appreciation at what they achieved and sacrificed.
Although there were moments in the book where one of the air crew told of how their damaged bomber was limping home on only two engines when suddenly a German FW 190 fighter plane appeared, the flight crew thought he was going to have an easy victory, when in fact he drew along side them, giving them a thumbs down. After the bomber had ditched in the sea and all the crew had got out, the fighter then flew along side, giving them the thumbs up. There are other comments in the book from German fighter pilots who said they used to fire in between the two engines, which would cause a fire but give the crew a chance to bail out. I guess there were just as many pilots who didn't give them a chance either though but with comments like that, although we all know what the fighting was for, it does seem a bit of a waste of lives doesn't it really? Anyway enough of that, this is well worth a read as you can never stop learning about things and you don't have to be a WW2 or plane buff to get something from this book either. As courage, respect, mateship are things to be acknowleged and to aspire to.
Hal
I have just finished reading Bomber Crew by James Taylor, synopsis as follows:
Long after the Battle of Britain, the aircrews of RAF Bomber Command risked their lives night after night during the Second World War. Over 55,000 of the airmen never returned from these missions; a further 10,000 became prisoners of war. And yet Bomber Command has been mired in controversy and its veterans - all volunteers - have never been awarded a campaign medal. Their crucial contribution to the outcome of the war has all too often been overlooked. Bomber Crew exposes the bravery of these men using gripping first-person testimony from the surviving pilots and crew. For them this was a time of incredible hardship and adrenaline, courage and friendship, and their stories bear witness to the strength of the human spirit in times of incredible danger. Never before has their story been so vividly told. This is also a revealing look at the history of Bomber Command itself, from the early days through to eventual victory in 1945. From the terrifying action of the bombing raids to the intimate personal accounts of heroism, tragedy and triumph, this is the ultimate account of these brave men and their contribution to the Allied victory. (net sourced)
Now this was a really good book to read, as it made you realise just how brave the aircrew were, especially in the early years of the war, flying outdated planes against strong German defences, resulting in a high loss rate of men and machines. To read in their own words what it was like, was almost humbling really as even in the later years, the losses were still high and the chances of completing the required 30 missions that was a tour of duty, was very slim indeed.
And to think what it must have been like to take off knowing that it was a 10hr return journey to Berlin and back, having to run the gauntlet of flak, search lights, night fighters and with the thoughts 'Will I see Blighty again?' I found the book well written and as it's basically in the words of the men who fought during that time, I felt appreciation at what they achieved and sacrificed.
Although there were moments in the book where one of the air crew told of how their damaged bomber was limping home on only two engines when suddenly a German FW 190 fighter plane appeared, the flight crew thought he was going to have an easy victory, when in fact he drew along side them, giving them a thumbs down. After the bomber had ditched in the sea and all the crew had got out, the fighter then flew along side, giving them the thumbs up. There are other comments in the book from German fighter pilots who said they used to fire in between the two engines, which would cause a fire but give the crew a chance to bail out. I guess there were just as many pilots who didn't give them a chance either though but with comments like that, although we all know what the fighting was for, it does seem a bit of a waste of lives doesn't it really? Anyway enough of that, this is well worth a read as you can never stop learning about things and you don't have to be a WW2 or plane buff to get something from this book either. As courage, respect, mateship are things to be acknowleged and to aspire to.
Hal
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