Bomber Boys: The RAF Offensive of 1943

This is one of the finest books I have read regarding Bomber Command in WWII and is an example of how to write military history. Note the book deals only with operations in 1943 which does allow for much more detail rather than encompassing several years in one volume. The writing is of considerable clarity with a proper mix of first person accounts and strategy and technical developments. There is no waste of text in this book. Much new information is presented particularly the accounts of returned aircrew and shootdowns of the raids. A German perspective is also included to see the other side which what was occurring. The personal accounts are a study in tragedy as one frequently notes the majority of the crew perish, particularly pilots not being among survivors of a shootdown. I find the post-mission bombing results to be of interest with descriptions of how many raids were failures due to creepback, navigation issues, and misplaced target indicators. Kevin Wilson's work is akin to WWII aerial history what Peter Hart does for the First World War. I hope he does not mind the comparison. I find of interest that the book emphasizes the men involved at the sharp edge and not the machines. The aircraft are implements of the job not the focus. Have just started on his Fighter Boys volume. I note Mr. Wilson is working on Bomber Command operations in 1944. Revews of the former volume to follow in a week. This book is worthy of inclusion in one's WWII library.

This is an excellent account of life on a heavy bomber squadron in the RAF in WW II. I flew in the command but much later in the war when the chances of finishing a tour were very good. I lost a lot of my buddies from that period and now appreciate just how bad it was for them. Kevin Wilson has done a magnificent job of describing the persoanl lives of the youth of that era and their heroism over Germany. There are still some 20,000 unaccounted for in Germany out of the 55,000 that lost there lives over there.