Confounding the Reich: The RAF’s Secret War of Electronic Countermeasures in WWII

by Martin W. Bowman, Tom Cushing

On 23 November 1943, 100 (Bomber Support) Group of RAF Bomber Command was formed. The object was to consolidate the various squadrons and units that had been fighting a secret war of electronics and radar countermeasures, attempting to reduce the losses of the heavy bombers - and their hard pressed crews - in Bomber Command. This secret war involved the use of air and ground radar’s, homing and jamming equipment, special radio and navigational aids, and intruding night-fighters to seek out and destroy their opposite numbers, the Ju 88s and Bf 110s of the Nachtjägdgeschwader who defended the night skies of the Third Reich with ever increasing success.

The book contains many first-hand accounts from pilots and crew and provides a fascinating record of 100 Group's wartime history.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 1996

About the author

Martin W. Bowman is one of Britain's leading aviation authors, with over 100 published books on the Second World War and post-war aviation history, and several on the landscape of East Anglia. He has also established an international reputation for his superb imagery and aerial photography. He has a passion for flying in military aircraft. He lives in Norwich, Norfolk.

Reviews

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am in awe of the absolute courage of the young men who flew the aircraft on these missions to attack Nazi Germany. They knew that every night, sometimes in appalling weather conditions, that many of their number would not return. I was not previously aware of the electronic aspect of the bomber campaign and the work of the boffins to continually develop new counter measures to keep pace with developments by the enemy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone else, who like me, enjoys reading about previously unknown aspects of the second World War. I have downloaded the book on the story from the German side, by the same author, and look forward to reading it.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whilst I can take nothing away from the brave pilots and the back room boffins, this score is more for the style the book is written not the story itself.
Very dry, much like a text/lecture book on the radio jamming equipment used and the aircraft. Some incredibly stories of bravery by the men flying the planes and plenty of pictures in the book showing the men and aircraft of 100 sqn and others.

[Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoofing the Krauts by electronic deception.