The aircraft flew the highest number of sorties on the squadron and the command with 62 ops, 610 hours 55 minute flying time. 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 aim of this site is simple, to perpetuate the memory of a generation of young men drawn from every part of britain its commonwealth and the dominions who served with no. Barry hopes series of bomber command squadron compendia starts with 57 squadron raf. Yates book came out somewhat later, but was, and is, remarkable for a first book written at the age of 77. The squadron was formed for the first time on 16 november 1942 at duxford. The squadron is still operational in the present day, flying the airbus voyager in the transport tanker role. Bomber command pilot leonard cheshires classic second world war memoir by leonard cheshire, with a commentary from dr robert owen royalties from the sales of bomber pilot will be paid to the leonard cheshire charity. The website is a collection of newly discovered history, which is completely free to browse and a project that continues to gather more support each day. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The crew and i were only on 460 squadron for just a few months as we each completed our 30 trip tour of duty. 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. In many ways, they were typical of bomber command crews, comprised of young men from across the. 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. My flying log book is still in my treasured possession with every detail of my training and active. This reflects the number of men in the unit and the various levels of responsibility. Bomber command is a book written by jason fry based on the film star wars. Along with the united states army air forces, it played the central role in the strategic bombing of germany in world war ii. Thus, bomber command and its relentless cinc, sir arthur harris. For richard overy, whose first book on the subject appeared in 1980, the. Bomber command, through fits and starts, grew into an effective fighting force. We specialise in publishing and selling books about raf bomber command in the second world war and related topics.
Amongst them are three classics, miles tripps eight passanger is recognised as one of the great books on bomber command aircrew. The lincolnshire bomber command memorial trust registered charity no. Raf rank structure varied according to the branch of the command. The squadron at snaith before the arrival of 51 was 150 squadron. Most of the 5 group airfields were around lincoln, including raf scampton. Its story is told as an inuniverse journal written by resistance gunner paige tico. Bomber command crews and aircraft pictures public group. It continued to carry out this role until it merged with no. The history of 153 squadron, bomber command, october 1944.
Listed below are a number of biographies and autobiographies of airman who at one time operated and served with no. In an atmosphere charged with the tautness of a bombaimers flaklit compartment the lives, loves and fears of the men who manned the halifaxes of bomber command are vividly, even brutally, portrayed. This normally consisted of weather reports, crews posted in and out, very basic operation details and training activities. Books the history of 153 squadron, bomber command, october 1944 september 1945. Now, a new book is shining a light on the story of the men aboard the lancaster that night. Volume 6 raf bomber command profiles 1 by ward, chris, hodyra, piotr isbn. This is the hightension, fast moving story of a bomber squadron savagely mauled in the great saturation raids on germany. 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. An raf bomber command squadron commander was a wing commander, and in path finder force pff, where ranks were one higher than regular bomber command, a group captain. Welcome to the archive of the jews who died serving in bomber command during ww2. A very well written account of an unusual raf bomber squadron overlooked by many historians and by other raf bomber squadrons.
This book contains a full quotation of the two paragraphs quoted here, and cites. A total of 126 squadrons served with bomber command. The book contains tables of all casualties and losses suffered by. The group had some of the most effective squadrons of bomber command, personified by no 617 squadron the dambusters, formed from 5 group aircrew in march 1943. Memories of bomber command are unusual in being both complex and volatile. Signed halfway to hell australian flying 460 sqn bomber.
The memoirs of the one of the greatest ever british raf pilots who at the age of 22 commanded no. By the end of the war the group had grown to 15 squadrons. Don charlwood, journeys into night, burgewood books, warrandyte, 2005, p. The book was published by studio fun international on december 15, 2017. He would end up with quite a few glasses lined up on top of the piano. 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 is the companion book to the last jedi. This is closely followed by bill jacksons three stripes and four brownings and. On the 12th august henry keith nunn known as keith died peacefully in his sleep. 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. Front left is johnnie wortley, johnnie went onto train as a flight engineer and return to the squadron. The history of 153 squadron, bomber command, october 1944 september 1945. A collection of stories about 460 squadron raaf and my tour of duty. Still, we were proud to have played our part in a great command, to have upheld the honour.
The squadron was created as part of 1 group bomber command from the detached c flight of 103 squadron also based at raf elsham wolds plus several more. Made up of about 30 british commonwealth heavy bomber squadrons. Buy 10 squadron raf bomber command profiles by chris ward, ian macmillan isbn. In may 1945 the squadron transferred to transport command and reequipped with sterlings and yorks in january 1946. 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. From 1942 onward, the british bombing campaign against germany became less restrictive and increasingly targeted industrial sites and the civilian manpower base essential. Bomber command interception and tactic reports air143016. The squadron was created as part of 1 group bomber command from the detached c flight of 103 squadron also based at. In bomber command, originally published to critical acclaim in the u. 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.
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. 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. Raf bomber command controlled the rafs bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. Halfway to hell australian flying with bomber command halfway to hell aussie sky heroes in bomber command ww2 by l. Unlike stamp collectors and their knowledgeable breadth of history, when you pick up raf bomber command profiles. 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. The bomber command digital archive is an initiative of the international bomber command centre ibcc. I read it in preparation for an upcoming trip to lincolnshire, where there is a museum on bomber command. This ended in april 1940 with the german invasion of norway.
Carpe diem 576 squadron was formed at raf elsham wolds at the end of november 1943 and flew avro lancaster bombers throughout the remainder of ww2. In october 1940, bill joined the no 5 elementary flying training school at narromine new south wales. In total 364,514 operational sorties were flown, 1,030,500 tons of bombs were dropped and 8,325 aircraf. 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. Raf bomber command battle order 1944 royal air force. For the remainder of the war the squadron flew as part of 4 group bomber command. Even on the australian bomber command squadrons, which began. Royal air force bomber command allied air forces battle of normandy no 1 group bawtry hall. A squadron covered in secrets for many long years after world war two the use of raf aircraft by the soe special operations executive to drop supplies and agents into nazis occupied europe. In 1939 there were 6 groups in bomber command, 5 no. Snaith was built in the late 1930s as the threat of war loomed. Bomber command books is the sales site for mention the war ltd.