The Red Line: The Gripping Story of the RAF’s Bloodiest Raid on Hitler’s Germany

by John Nichol

Paperback. Pub Date :2014-01-16 English HarperCollins UK From best-selling author of Tail-End Charlie and Tornado Down comes this powerful and deeply moving account of Bomber Commands 1944 Nuremberg Raid - the RAFs bloodiest night of the Second World War More men from Royal Air Force Bomber Command died on one single night of the Second World War than the total RAF aircrew losses during the whole of the four-month-long Battle of Britain. This is the story of the air raid intended to be the climax of Sir Arthur Bomber Harriss relentless campaign to defeat Nazi Germany The target was 795 aircraft set out. nearly 700 men did not return In The Red Line. we meet the young aircrew who flew on the night of 30 March 1944. John Nichol has interviewed the few surviving veterans. British and German. in the air and on the ground. to record the voices of...

Genres: Nonfiction, History, World War II, Military History, Military Fiction, Aviation

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Flight Lieutenant Adrian John Nichol (born December 1963) is a retired Royal Air Force navigator who was shot down and captured during the first Gulf War.

Reviews

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until the last couple of chapters I was going to score this book 3 stars. I’m glad to say that Nichol saved his best writing towards the end and gave this important part of history a fitting and moving tribute to those who fought and died.

I previously didn’t know the story behind Bomber Command’s mission to Nuremberg where Harris’ tactics left a lot to be desired, costing 95 aircraft and the lives of 545 men. Lest we forget.

[Khairul Shafee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping indeed. It really pique my interest on the subject. It is hard to put yourself into the shoes of the airmen. Going out there and never know whether there are going to come back alive. Love the narrative and the first-hand accounts.

[gemma spratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping reading told through the story of real life heroes. Makes you sad how many men were sent into certain death but how brave they were to face it with such courage

[James Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Line provides an account of the infamous RAF Bomber Command attack on Nuremberg the night of March 30-31st. Author John Nichol (a retired RAF navigator who was shot down and taken prisoner during the first Gulf War) does a great job depicting the horror experienced by so many young Lancaster and Halifax aircrews that night. Nichol uses many first-hand accounts from both Commonwealth crewman as well as German night fighter pilots to recreate the events that led to the loss of 96 bombers. While not a very technical portrayal of events, The Red Line is a must read for anyone interested in the plight of so many brave Bomber Command crews.

[Clinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good factual data, many great insights and insider stories nicely summaries many other interviews. Slightly difficult to keep track of the characters, author could have started paragraphs with "Back on G-George.." so we knew which crew he was talking about but otherwise an interesting read into a botched British raid.. really appreciated the truth being dug out of the commanders who defended their poor decisions with ".. I am surprised it didn't happen more often" Military leaders must be committed to their cause but that is why politicians have to maintain moral authority so that a war is not won with such horrendous acts of barbarity.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this as very good because for my purpose of understanding the experience of being part of an aircrew in Bomber Command during World War II, John Nichols’s Red Line is a detailed, startling and deeply moving account drawing from interviews of the men who were there. Nichols recreates the sights, sounds, and horror of the mission to Nuremberg on March 30, 1944, and details the fate of dozens of men who set out on that disastrous mission, including death, capture and escape. An important story in Bomber Command history, well told.

[Gavin McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding narrative of a shocking tragedy under Bomber Command. Heroic and selfless young men who participated in a terrifying operation over Germany. The conclusion stories are deeply moving! We need to preserve these accounts, leaving aside for a moment Churchill and Arthur Harris’s inadequate recognition of the conspicuous plan failure (compounded by unfortunate weather for the RAF). Highly recommended

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
A good account of the raid, but I thought it could have done with a bit tighter editing.
The wealth of personal stories of the surviving veterans of the raid and their families is invaluable. You would find more details in Max Hastings book.

[Henrietta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible story. No further words!

[Steve Markham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good and compact history of an RAF mission over Germany and pretty good.