Hit and Run: Daring Air Attacks in World War II

by Robert Jackson

The book describes some of the most daring air attacks of World War II. Some were outstanding successes and some were unmitigated disasters.

North Sea In the early weeks of World War II, Britain and Germany were determined to attack one another's warships in their respective naval bases. Both RAF and Luftwaffe learned the folly of sending unescorted bombers into enemy territory.

Flames over In May 1940, the RAF and French Air Force launched a series of desperate hit-and-run attacks on the German armored columns advancing into France and Belgium. The cost was appalling.

Precision In August 1940, a newly-formed Luftwaffe unit called Erprobungsgruppe 210 (Test Group 210), equipped with bomb-carrying Messerschmitts, was assigned a mission to wipe out British radar stations in a series of lightning low-level attacks.

Carrier In November 1940, a force of Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bombers crippled the Italian fleet in a daring night attack on the naval base at Taranto.

By Daylight to In the summer of 1941, Blenheim squadrons of No 2 Group RAF launched a series of daring low-level attacks on power stations and naval facilities in northern Germany. The principal target was Bremen, at the extreme limit of the bombers' range.

Plus ... Mission to Augsburg, Target Tokyo, Dead on Time, Extreme Danger Mission, The Raid That Failed, The Anniversary Raids, Mosquito Mission, The Luftwaffe's Last Fling

208 pages, Hardcover

First published July 19, 2005

About the author

Robert Jackson was born in 1941 in the North Yorkshire village of Melsonby. A former pilot and navigation instructor, his active involvement with aviation lasted many years. Following his retirement from the RAFVR in 1977 as a squadron leader, he became a full-time aviation writer and aerospace correspondent and lectured extensively on strategic issues. He speaks five languages, including Russian, and has written more than forty nonfiction works on military affairs. He is also the author of the popular Yeoman and SAS fiction series.

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books covers the exploits of the brave airmen during World War 2 and some incredible feats of flying performed by them. The raids spoken about are some single raids that are well known and then some series of raids conducted to accomplish the same goals. All of then are incredible, yet the chapters of each of them are too short to give more details of them. The book only gives a good overview on these raids and can be used as a reference to get books of some of the raids and airmen involved if you want to learn more. Still a good and quick read and highly recommended.