Book title: Bomber Command
Author: Max Hastings
ISBN: 978-0-330-39204-4
Recommended by James Adcock because...
I read most of this book this summer (2008) whilst I was at La Faula, and the book is part of "Pans Grand Strategy" series which essentially explores particular areas of conflict and looks to remove the myths and explain the real story. "Bomber Command" is a very detailed account of a part of the RAF called "Bomber Command" no less, who during WWII managed the offensive bombing campaign against Germany and its allies. Max Hastingsī style is to explain the bigger picture of the war and the RAF, discuss the equipment available and history of the group and then delve into real detail on the particular experiences of individuals involved and particular Squadrons that fought the battles, whilst also looking at the senior leadership of the organisation and the politics involved. The book is very well written in a very engaging style and despite the level of detail that Hastings goes into it is not too overwhelming. So what were the learnings (since it is a military historical factual book): firstly the air war wasnt anything like its ever portrayed in the movies or any propoganda one might have heard about. Also like most conflicts/theatres of operations it was a very close run thing, and without doubt, without the US entering into the war, the outcome would have been very different. However, I think the most amazing stories that come out of the book relate to interviews with survivors explaining what it was like and how they coped. Most pilots and crew members in bomber command were in their early 20īs, were flying bombing raids daily over occupied Germany and any one mission could be their last. They were so close to death that its very hard for us in 2008 to really understand what they lived through, although this book goes some way towards doing that. Agreed this book wont be to everyones tastes but for anyone with an interest in warfare it really is a great read: 8/10. (The book will also be in the La Faula library in time for 2009!)
Author: Max Hastings
ISBN: 978-0-330-39204-4
Recommended by James Adcock because...
I read most of this book this summer (2008) whilst I was at La Faula, and the book is part of "Pans Grand Strategy" series which essentially explores particular areas of conflict and looks to remove the myths and explain the real story. "Bomber Command" is a very detailed account of a part of the RAF called "Bomber Command" no less, who during WWII managed the offensive bombing campaign against Germany and its allies. Max Hastingsī style is to explain the bigger picture of the war and the RAF, discuss the equipment available and history of the group and then delve into real detail on the particular experiences of individuals involved and particular Squadrons that fought the battles, whilst also looking at the senior leadership of the organisation and the politics involved. The book is very well written in a very engaging style and despite the level of detail that Hastings goes into it is not too overwhelming. So what were the learnings (since it is a military historical factual book): firstly the air war wasnt anything like its ever portrayed in the movies or any propoganda one might have heard about. Also like most conflicts/theatres of operations it was a very close run thing, and without doubt, without the US entering into the war, the outcome would have been very different. However, I think the most amazing stories that come out of the book relate to interviews with survivors explaining what it was like and how they coped. Most pilots and crew members in bomber command were in their early 20īs, were flying bombing raids daily over occupied Germany and any one mission could be their last. They were so close to death that its very hard for us in 2008 to really understand what they lived through, although this book goes some way towards doing that. Agreed this book wont be to everyones tastes but for anyone with an interest in warfare it really is a great read: 8/10. (The book will also be in the La Faula library in time for 2009!)
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