On the 12th august henry keith nunn known as keith died peacefully in his sleep. You can also visit our site map for a comprehensive view of everything on this site in a single window. On the 29th june 1944 on his 2nd sortie his lancaster was shot down near beauvoir france,on a daylight raid against a flying bomb facility. Thus, bomber command and its relentless cinc, sir arthur harris. Books the history of 153 squadron, bomber command, october 1944 september 1945. Royal air force operations record books 19111963 the national. 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. You can purchase my other books, including the bestseller the. No 311 czechoslovak squadron raf was a czechoslovakmanned bomber squadron of the royal air force in the second world war.
It continued to carry out this role until it merged with no. The bomber command digital archive is an initiative of the international bomber command centre ibcc. Amongst them are three classics, miles tripps eight passanger is recognised as one of the great books on bomber command aircrew. N ow, a new book is shining a light on the story of the men aboard the lancaster that night. For the remainder of the war the squadron flew as part of 4 group bomber command. The history of 153 squadron, bomber command, october 1944 september 1945. A total of 126 squadrons served with bomber command. In may 1945 the squadron transferred to transport command and reequipped with sterlings and yorks in january 1946. New zealanders in bomber command max lambert the great melting pot that was the raf during the war has always, to me, been a strong indicator of how people from different countries and backgrounds can work closely together to achieve a common goal. I read it in preparation for an upcoming trip to lincolnshire, where there is a museum on bomber command. In 1939 there were 6 groups in bomber command, 5 no. This book is the ww2 story of bill mcfadden a recipient of the distinguished flying medal and the legion dhonneur for his gallant service with bomber command during world war ii. Raf fighter squadron strength thread starter maxs75.
It was the rafs only czechoslovakmanned medium and heavy bomber squadron. Raf bomber command battle order 1944 royal air force. Royal air force bomber command allied air forces battle of normandy no 1 group bawtry hall. The squadron is still operational in the present day, flying the airbus voyager in the transport tanker role. At raf waddington, the squadronss crews were assigned the task of introducing the illfated avro manchester into service. 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. Bomber command had outlined a detailed set of plans in 1936, in case of a german attack. Bomber command books is the sales site for mention the war ltd. Buy 10 squadron raf bomber command profiles by chris ward, ian macmillan isbn. Raf bomber command aircrew of world war ii wikipedia. If you are new to this site, you may want to start your journey at our homepage. Im delighted to announce that my latest nonfiction book, above us the stars. Unlike stamp collectors and their knowledgeable breadth of history, when you pick up raf bomber command profiles.
The squadron reformed again at raf waddington on 1 august 1962 equipped with the avro vulcan v bomber, using ex617 squadron aircraft made surplus after 617 squadron reequipped with vulcan b. In many ways, they were typical of bomber command crews, comprised of. Signed halfway to hell australian flying 460 sqn bomber. Later moving to raf bottesford, the manchesters were replaced by the. This may be the same book or another book on vp 81. The squadron at snaith before the arrival of 51 was 150 squadron. List of pages relating to 19391945 aircrew remembered site. Not a bomber command book it is the story of j e johnnie johnson later air vice marshal johnson, who served with fighter command squadrons throughout the war.
Bomber command interception and tactic reports air143016. It suffered the heaviest losses of any czechoslovak formation in the raf. Snaith was built in the late 1930s as the threat of war loomed. Yates book came out somewhat later, but was, and is, remarkable for a first book written at the age of 77. 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. 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. Raf bomber command controlled the rafs bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. Front left is johnnie wortley, johnnie went onto train as a flight engineer and return to the squadron and complete a tour in 1945. This group was set up so that people can post pictures of bomber command aircrewground crew for the period 19391945 and pictures of bomber command aircraft 19391945.
We specialise in publishing and selling books about raf bomber command in the second world war and related topics. But of interest to 550 squadron because on pages 247 and 248 avc johnson describes an event where a lancaster bomber attacks a german military column on two low passes all guns blazing. This is closely followed by bill jacksons three stripes and four brownings and. Bomber command by max hastings goodreads share book. The aircraft flew the highest number of sorties on the squadron and the command with 62 ops, 610 hours 55 minute flying time. 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. Raf fighter squadron strength aircraft of world war ii. More than 56,000 british and commonwealth aircrew and 600,000 germans died in the course. Divbomber command s air offensive against the cities of nazi germany was one of the most epic campaigns of world war ii.
These are royal air force raf operations record books orbs, though the. Bomber command crews and aircraft pictures public group. Volume 7 raf bomber command profiles 1 by chris ward isbn. On 19 april 1940 the squadron s training role was assumed by no. On this site youll find further details about me, my books and my writing. Chris wards 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. Halfway to hell australian flying with bomber command halfway to hell aussie sky heroes in bomber command ww2 by l. Raf bomber command squadron profiles book 4 paperback. 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. The squadron returned to the uk and was reformed as a bomber squadron within 1 group, bomber command on 15 december, 1942. Don charlwoods and miles tripps books caused sensations when they were first published, giving a personal and very direct view of what life was like in bomber command at different times in the war.
The history of 153 squadron, bomber command, october 1944. During may and june 1945, bomber command took many of the ground crews on a cooks tour of the ruhr to see some of the devastation that had been inflicted on germany. Made up of about 30 british commonwealth heavy bomber squadrons, a reduction of the original plan of about 1,000. Along with the united states army air forces, it played the central role in the strategic bombing of germany in world war ii. The author examines bomber commands search for equipment and doctrine suitable to the war, in the process shedding much light on the politics of making war within the raf and the british government. Bomber command training 19423 part of the training needed to fly the lanasters bombers during ww2 before flying lancasters on operation at 460 squadron, our crew were required to train on other bombers which included the vickers wellington and the handley page halifax ii.
Bomber command is the companion book to the last jedi. Each includes brief history, operational record, aircraft listing, key to abbreviations, sources of information, stock list. 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. Our growing list of titles focuses on the aircraft, squadrons and above all the men and. In october 1940, bill joined the no 5 elementary flying training school at narromine new south wales. When the euphoria had subsided, it was time to take stock of the war, and its effects on 100 squadron in particular, and bomber command in general. These western air plans sixteen in total held different scenarios, like bombing raids on the united kingdom or a land offensive against france, and bomber command s targets were adjusted to them.