Air Force Blue: The RAF in World War Two - Spearhead of Victory

by Patrick Bishop

In 2018 the RAF is one hundred years old. In his new book, destined to be a classic, Patrick Bishop examines the high point of its existence – the Second World War, when the Air Force saved the nation from defeat then led the advance to victory.



A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
Air warfare was a terrible novelty of the modern age, requiring a new military outlook. From the beginning, the RAF’s identity set it apart from the traditional services. It was innovative, flexible and comparatively meritocratic, advancing the quasi-revolutionary idea that competence was more important than background.


The Air Force went into the war with inadequate machines, training and tactics, and the early phase was littered with setbacks and debacles. Then, in the summer of 1940, in full view of the population, Fighter Command won one of the decisive battles of the struggle. Thereafter the RAF was gilded with an aura of success that never tarnished, going on to make a vital contribution to Allied victory in all theatres.


Drawing from diaries, letters, memoirs, and interviews, Air Force Blue captures the nature of combat in the skies over the corrugated wastes of the Atlantic, the sands of the Western Desert and the jungles of Burma. It also brings to life the intensely lived dramas, romances, friendships and fun that were as important a part of the experience as the fighting.


Air Force Blue portrays the spirit of the RAF – its heart and soul – during its finest hours. It is essential reading for the millions in Britain and the Commonwealth whose loved ones served, and for anyone who wants to understand the Second World War.

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

410 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

Patrick Bishop was born in London in 1952 and went to Wimbledon College and Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Before joining the Telegraph he worked on the Evening Standard, the Observer and the Sunday Times and in television as a reporter on Channel Four News. He is the author with John Witherow of a history of the Falkands War based on their own experiences and with Eamon Mallie of The Provisional IRA which was praised as the first authoritative account of the modern IRA. He also wrote a memoir the first Gulf War, Famous Victory and a history of the Irish diaspora The Irish Empire, based on the TV series which he devised.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Air Force Blue: The RAF in World War Two-Spearhead of Victory” by Patrick Bishop is the third book of a trilogy about the Royal Air Force. The other two books are “Fighter Boys” and “Bomber Boys”. The first two books concentrated on the RAF’s wartime campaigns: The Battle of Britain and the more controversial bombing of German cities. This third volume completes the picture with stories of the other theaters of war, such as the battle of the Atlantic and the desert war in North Africa and the fight against the Japanese over Burma.

Formed a century ago in the last year of the First World War, it was neglected and under-funded. Luckily it had developed such planes as the Spitfire, Hurricane, Mosquito and the Lancaster that saved Britain at the beginning of WWII. The author details Barnes Wallis’ great ability to mastermind great weapons including the bouncing bomb. Bishop discusses the Air Force’s ability to emphasize courage and competence rather than nepotism found in the older military services. The RAF also had the ability to blend in skillful young men of many nationalities into its ranks.

The book is well written and meticulously researched. Bishop is a former war correspondent and he brings this skill to his writing. The story is readable and there is an exciting writing style. Bishop switches back and forth between high strategic policies to recounting stories of the individual airmen. The author handles both modes with aplomb. Bishop does not conceal his admiration for the fliers themselves and quotes generously from their letters, diaries and personal accounts. He apparently does not hold the higher echelon with the same regard he holds the airmen. This book makes an excellent addition to the books about the RAF.

The book is 432 pages long and is published by William Collins Publishing Company.

[David Lowther · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I expected when I started reading Air Force Blue - a glorification of war? hopefully not. What I got was a 'warts and all' history of the RAF during the second world war and it was much the better for this approach.

Bishop rightly lauds the achievements of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and salutes the bravery of the air crew of Bomber Command. The author also sings the praises of the ground crews who kept the aircraft in the air.

There is no traditional narrative. Making use of diaries, letters, reports and personal recollections, Bishop gets to the heart of the campaigns, many of which, especially those of Bomber Command, were unsuccessful. He draws our attention to the rivalry between the three services before and during the early part of the war, but stresses how important it was to shelve old rivalries and work together. This was especially so during the desert war and Bishop's description of that campaign is particularly enlightening.

Politics are never far away and the sidelining of the Air Force great Hugh Dowding, C in C of Fighter Command, is especially poignant.

A very fine book indeed.

David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of '39.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping to find a readable modern history of the RAF in 2018, its centenary year. However, I don’t feel that this is it.

A strange book, in some places old fashioned, yet in others brimming with facts and figures. And with reminiscences of those who took part, which although written in the language of the time, seems so remote now. At some points not flinching from criticism, and yet in others not touching on deficincies. And in the Epilogue, area bombing is justified in what sounded perilously close to the “Only following orders” defence.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A particularly pertinent read for a resident of Bomber County in the centenary year of the RAF. Clearly written with chapters divided by chronology, geography and by Command; there's a lot of time, space and action to cover. A good mix of first person experience and official record with plenty of historical analysis.
I did get a bit lost among all the commanders and senior staff.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gives an overall picture of the formation aduring1918 and the background to that formation. Discusses the structure of the service at the start of the Second World War and how it evolved from the Battle of Britain and the later aerea bombing policy, then the service in North Africa and how the Coastal Command worked.

It covers a lot of ground and is necessarily thin in places. The account relies heavily on the anecdotes, stories and diaries of serving members. This left me feeling that all the information was spread too thinly. A lot of the accounts are told elsewhere and there was little new content. For an ex-RAF man, there was too much, "They are all good chaps". Not many rotters then.

3 stars.

[Eric Grounds · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read a huge number of books about the RAF, including the biographies of most of the senior wartime leaders (eg. Tedder, Coningham, Harris, Dowding). I sort of expected more from this one but cannot quite put my finger on what it is that doesn't work. Let there be no mistake, it has been very thoroughly researched through a very diverse range of sources and it is very readable. But somehow it fails to hit my target. I have been left with the feeling that there is much that could have been in the book which isn't there. In one or two instances, I spotted a lack of narrative that produced a misleading story about individuals who deserved better. Equally, the standard heroes (Gibson, Bader, Standford Tuck) receive an airing while some of the stunning lost talent (like Reggie Elsmie) has been ignored.

[Gareth Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This does everything that one can expect from a single-volume history of the RAF in the build up to, and the prosecution of, World War 2. Given the size, it can only be impressionistic and it makes excellent use of diaries, memoirs and interviews to give a wide variety of views on service. The politics of high command seem well handled. There is less on the technology, of the planes themselves and the associated navigation and targeting aids, but there are enough pointers for further reading. It’s written in the informal, light style of many modern popular histories. Bishop has a deft touch and the flow never lags. For a reader wanting a good overview of the RAF in World War 2 which is not excessively long, it is difficult to see how he/she could be much better served than by Air Force Blue.

[Paul Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, I learnt some new stuff from it. I enjoy Patrick's style, his books are very readable and the information is clear.

[Chris Damon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Filled-in gaps in my knowledge of Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. Lots of quotes from letters, diaries and memoirs of men and women serving in the RAF at the time which adds a lot of color and authenticity to the narrative. But also straight history is presented. Generally presented chronologically, beginning with the inter-war period and ending around 1946 during demobilization, it also is organized in such a way that it discusses the main three separate commands within the RAF: Fighter Command, Bomber Command, and Coastal Command. Fighter Command's moment of glory of course was the Battle of Britain in 1940. Bomber Command was for much of the war the only way Britain could take the war to Germany - the bombers and their crews often took appalling losses from German fighters and anti-aircraft flak, but the British leadership was determined to press the bombing war. Coastal Command of RAF was arguably the decisive contributor toward definitively ending the U-boat threat to Britain. There is also discussion of the RAF in other theaters such as Asia and North Africa. But the main focus is on the people, the men and women of the RAF. It becomes clear that the RAF, more than the other services, was a great leveler of social class - one's merit and skill was more important than their birth or family. Reading the book it becomes clear why Attlee's Labour Party beat Churchill and the Tories in 1945: people wanted change, and the services like the RAF tended to vote Labour. Also referenced are the significant contributions of the Dominions of the Empire: pilots, crew and ground personnel from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, also Trinidad - and racial discrimination issues involved. I would recommend the book to anyone with an interest in World War II. Good combination of history and some good old-fashioned thrilling accounts of aerial combat and the British "stiff upper lip" of maintaining high spirits in adversity.

[Iain Bulpett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once more I seem to have stumbled across a no-nonsense record of history! In this book, not the exploits of the few of famous, just a record of how people were attracted to serve in the RAF from the outbreak of hostilities in 1939. A brief history of its formation & struggle to remain a separate 3rd armed force. The American admiration of the one service to have distinguished itself, among a nation fighting for its life. The army had Dunkirk, the Royal Navy has several setbacks, but the RAF had the battle of Britain. It also covers the outdated tactics & aircraft of 1939, to the heavy bombers & fighter/bombers of 1945. Germany reached maximum war capacity between 1937 & 1941, whilst playing catch-up Britain would not reach this target until around 1943. Definitely recomended !!!

[Dave Hartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read and left me with more knowledge of the way the RAF evolved during the war years and went from a somewhat privileged few to a classless organisation, unlike the other armed forces. The book anchored the narrative with many first-hand accounts, and broader historical views were woven in.

It would have been even better for me if the book had been split into a more distinct timeline, more chapters, and a clear focus in each one. I felt at times I was wading through it a little.

But I finished it and feel better informed for it. Well worth a read

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase Air Force Blue here for just $10!

A great book that tells the story of the RAF from the start of the 2nd World War to the end. Easy to read with accounts taken from diaries providing insights to how those brave young men dealt with the changing face of the war.

Alicia - The Book Grocer

[Andrew Upton-Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read about the history, emergence and importance of the RAF. Well written without an emphasis on types of planes nor battle-by-battle. More about the Men & Women who served and shaped the service

[Andrew O'reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little unfocussed but lots of detail from primary sources.

[Ondra Soukup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice compendium on RAF history. Only part of it, of course.

[Stephen Crichton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed in areas but not the most accessible read for more casual enthusiasts. Personally, Fighter Boys is a more engaging account, would recommend that one from Bishop instead!

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant history of the RAF through World War Two which cuts to the heart of Britain’s junior service and truly digs into its character, culture, achievements, failings and soul. Bishop’s eye for anecdotes is superb, blending the extraordinary with the mundane to paint a true picture of the RAF in those terrible years.