Its commanderinchief, sir edgar ludlowhewitt, moved into a centre that had direct communications with all bomber groups and stations in great britain. I have omitted the fairey battle for the same reason. Royal air force bomber command losses of the second world. A brilliant study of the rafs bomber command and their campaign in world war ii. The first official mission flown by the 8th air force personnel was four a20 havocs borrowed from the british to an airfield in holland in coordination with other british raids on july 4th 1942. May 19, 2015 bomber command moved to its new headquarters near high wycombe early in 1940. Chorley cahs journal canadian aviation historical society journal ccl coastal command losses, r. Noteworthy are the intelligence failures of both bomber command and the u. All in date order, aircraft type, serial number and circumstances of the loss.
The 8th af incurred lots of losses during the second world war. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war, volumes 1939 to 1947. Halliday cjca headline headlines from war diary 19391946. Viii bomber command flew only shallow penetration missions throughout the rest of august and early september while losses were made good. In effect look for a name rather than trawl through all the other volumes to find the one you want.
Raf bomber command controlled the raf s bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. Bomber command was divided into six operational groups, each flying the same type of aircraft. This is the fifth volume of a unique series of reference books by w r chorley that lists the aircraft, aircrew, the circumstances of each loss on a day by day basis. These are the key roles and responsibilities of a heavy bomber crew during the second world war.
Held off by the raf, the germans then swung their attack to the bombing of british citiesthe blitz. Life and death in bomber command imperial war museums. Throughout these desperate months of the invasion of france and the battle of britain, bomber command, taking heavy losses, was used to hit back where possible at. The aircrews of raf bomber command during world war ii operated a fleet of bomber aircraft carried strategic bombing operations from september 1939 to may 1945, on behalf of the allied powers. The diversionary strike against nuremberg cost 108 bombers. The appointment, on 23 february 1942, of air chief marshall arthur harris was to change the course of the strategic bombing campaign and, under his leadership, bomber command was forged into a. Their contribution to raf bomber command was tiny compared to total sorties. The publication that we hold has 224 pages 1,085 losses. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Bomber command moved to its new headquarters near high wycombe early in 1940.
Bomber command losses 1945 ww2 is nearly over and bill chorleys work detailing losses incurred by bomber command for 1945 continues. Jun 25, 2018 a bomber command aircrew operated as a team. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war, wr chorley. Mar 06, 2008 the eight previous volumes in this series, many of which have been reprinted over the years, provides a comprehensive listing of all bomber command aircraft losses between 1939 and 1947 in the european theatre of operations, along with information about the fate of the aircrew on board each individual aircraft. Daylight bombing raids conducted by bomber command involved unacceptably high losses of british aircraft, and bombing by night led to far lower british losses, but was of necessity indiscriminate due to the difficulties of noctural navigation and bomb aiming. For example, the germans could have been dealt a crushing blow had the schwinefurt ballbearing raid with another immediate raid. May 01, 2012 their contribution to raf bomber command was tiny compared to total sorties. Our date is always the briefing date as this is usually unambigous and fixed in the official records. Throughout these desperate months of the invasion of france and the battle of britain, bomber command, taking heavy losses, was used to hit back where possible at the german army and luftwaffe air force. Rafbomberlossesv1 download rafbomberlossesv1 ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Australian air power in the european theatre, 194245.
Black night for bomber command avro lancasters of no 57 squadron, royal air force, lined up in the dusk at scampton, lincolnshire, before an operation. Data from victory in the west volume 1 british official history. However the appearance of taking the fight to the enemy was just as important in raising the morale of the british population as was the actual damage inflicted on the. Operational research was a relatively new concept, but it had already proved its worth across the raf. This is followed by an explanation of the how the latest figures have been arrived at taking into account additions and amendments to date. The bomber had been attacked by a german night fighter. The raf bomber command ww2 casualty statistics require careful consideration, hence the inclusion of bill chorleys.
If you want to know what bombers were lost on a particular day, or from a particular squadron, or attacking a particular target, this is what you need. It has all the information available in an easy style for reference searches. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war, wr. Bomber command losses world war 2 max hastings inti. Raf bomber command controlled the rafs bomber forces from 1936 to 1968.
It records 16,926 aircraft losses, representing all raf bomber command losses for the entire period of the second world war. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war roll of honour 193947 amendments and additions volume 9, appendix 1 casualty statistics, p484. Oustanding and an essential book for anyone interested in bomber command in ww2. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war, vol. Chorley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Below bomber command were groups group in 1939 there were 6 groups in bomber command, 5 no. It was not unusual for the heavy bombers to complete their operational sortie and return home with members of their crew dead or dying aboard the aircraft, 210 or with the reargun turret blown. About australians in the uk bomber command 1939 1945. Bear this in mind when crossreferencing to our luftwaffe victories by namedate database and other luftwaffe sources. 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. Bomber command is a raid game in which each playthrough represents one night of air raiding.
The crews were men from the united kingdom, other commonwealth countries, and occupied europe, especially poland, france, czechoslovakia and norway, as well as other foreign volunteers. Dispersal loops, onto which crashed bombers were taken and serviceable aircraft parked, adjoin the south side of the single large runway 3,000 yards long x 250 yards wide, the size of which should be compared. The raf bomber command ww2 casualty statistics require careful consideration, hence the inclusion of bill chorleys explanatory text from appendix 1 of vol 9. Raf bomber command losses of the second world war by wr chorley amendments and additions, to be used in conjunction with the royal air force bomber command losses of the second world war 9 volume series from ian allan publishing. New groups and replacement aircraft arriving were the new b17g model, with improvements in various systems, along with the chin turret facing front, to help ward off frontal attacks by the luftwaffe. Allied losses in and over normandy and some bombing statistics. The losses from the bomber offensive were heavy and disproportionate. The issues described in the following pages are based on a number of important but in the main neglected original sources, including the unpublished history of the ors written by the scientists themselves, the reports produced by the section, and in particular the relevant documents in the bomber command headquarters files. Raf bomber command aircrew of world war ii wikipedia. Buy raf bomber command losses of the second world war. Paint scheme lancaster bi and bomber resupply set, bomber command raf wwii. Woodbridge elg lower left was specially built as the first of three bomber command emergency runways for damaged allied aircraft returning from operations over europe. The command was established at smoky hill aaf, kansas on 1 march 1944.
Bomber command, although poorly equipped with medium bombers and lacking sufficient technology to bomb accurately, continually assaulted german military and industrial targets. Later revisions may hold more detailing losses from the period of 1945. Click download or read online button to rafbomberlossesv1 book pdf for free now. Bomber command had switched to night bombing, but 2 group was tasked to. Download pdf rafbomberlossesv1 free online new books. Royal air force bomber command losses of the second world war. After a period of organization and its assigned groups receiving their b29 superfortress aircraft, the command transferred first to peterson field, colorado, the deployed to the central. By mid1940 these became the norm and the private property rule was shelved. This theory was quickly proved false as raf bombers were lost in unsustainable numbers during daylight operations against german targets. From 1942 onward, the british bombing campaign against germany became less restrictive and increasingly targeted industrial sites and the civilian. Total sorties 387,416 in which 8,953 aircraft were lost 2. Now, in an attempt to find ways of resolving its problems, bomber command chose to follow the experience of fighter command and coastal command in setting up an operational research section within the headquarters. Here is a breakdown of bomber command aircraft losses and aircrew casualties.
In 1939 there were 6 groups in bomber command, 5 no. Bomber command losses during the normandy campaign i figured i should post the official figures. The ruins of the kaiser wilhelm memorial 081943 bomber command losses of 2728081943 pertes du bomber command du 2728 081943 bomber command losses of 2728081943. Currently only the south east asia command losses will be listed in this database, with focus on the single engined combat aircraft losses. Along with the united states army air forces, it played the central role in the strategic bombing of germany in world war ii.
During the immediate period before world war two, the raf modified its command structure to rationalize for rapid expansion. Obviously many missions flew through midnight, therefore a luftwaffe claim against a plane or a locally generated crash report may record the incident as occurring on the day following our date. Very large amounts of supportive information is included, where such has come to my attention, usually from book and other publication references or from information held at kew, or by personal correspondence, which is. This is the third volume in the series which deals with the losses sustained by the raf bomber command during the 2nd world war. Aviation world war ii bomber command lost over 9000 aircraft and 50000 aircrew in world war ii. Each member was mutually dependent on the others and each had a vital part to play in ensuring that the aircraft reached its target, dropped its bombs and safely returned to base. Total bomber losses during the battle of berlin came to 1,128 planes. Of the 55, aircrew who failed to return or were missing air operations during world war ii, were australians of bomber command. The manchester has been included due to direct linkage with the. Because of these heavy losses, the decision was made by the war cabinet that bomber command would switch to night attacks. This is the fourth volume in the series which deals with the losses sustained by the raf bomber command during the 2nd world war. Jan 01, 1979 a brilliant study of the rafs bomber command and their campaign in world war ii. Royal air force bomber command losses by w r chorley.
It has already found favour with historians, and those friends and relatives affected by the loss. A total of 57,205 members of raf bomber command or airmen flying on attachment to raf bomber command were killed or posted missing in world war ii. Click download or read online button to rafbomberlossesv1 book pdf. Midland counties publications, 1994 aircraft accidents 318 pages. He also had direct communications with fighter command and the air ministry. The xxi bomber command xxi bc was a unit of the twentieth air force in the mariana islands for strategic bombing during world war ii. In the time between the british expeditionary force evacuation from dunkirk in 1940 and the successful allied landings in normandy in june 1944, the only way that the allied powers could take the fight to the germans in occupied europe was to use the heavy bombers of.
Raf bomber command was created in and comprised the rafs light and bomber aircraft were easy targets for enemy fighters and losses were heavy. Reviewed in the united kingdom on september 22, 2012. Mcneill ccma chronology of canadian military aviation, h. Raaf ww2 pow files held at the australian war memorial. Download pdf bomber commander free online new books in. Bomber command it says an aircraft that crashed in england was never included in bomber command. The manchester has been included due to direct linkage with the lancaster. Of course, most bomber command missions flew through midnight, therefore a luftwaffe claim against a plane or a locally generated crash report may record the incident as occurring on the day following our take off date. I have omitted the mosquito as most assigned to raf bomber command served as pathfinders or nightfighters rather then bombers. The sources for this database consists of multiple sources, including but not exclusively various losses books colin cummings, j j halley, air britain raf aircraft registers, raf serials books, national archive orb data with some information taken from the rafcommands forum. The series of which this book is volume 5, covers all bomber command losses during wwii, and to my knowledge is the most comprehensive, and possibly the only one of its kind. Here is an xls spreadsheet showing all the 8th air force missions and targets with losses by date throughout the war. My understanding is that it will cover all losses incurred by bomber command cross referenced to all his previous bc losses. By the end of 1941, the fortunes of bomber command were at an ebb with the increasing effectiveness of german defences causing unacceptable losses.
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