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Bomber!: Famous Bomber Missions of World War II
It was a moment in military history that required supreme courage.
The bomber crews of World War II left the security of their bases night after night to fly into the heart of enemy territory. In this compelling history of the campaigns they fought, Robert Jackson draws on eye-witness accounts, as well as his own experience as a military pilot, to tell the stories of men overcoming immense danger and terrible odds in pursuit of victory.
In telling detail Jackson describes the heavy American losses in the Schweinfurt-Regensburg campaign, when more than 300 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses aimed to crush Germany's aircraft production but which cost more than 60 planes as it ventured beyond the protection of escorting fighters, and the RAF night raid on Nürnberg, when the Allies lost over 150 heavy bombers and nearly 1,300 aircrew.
More poignantly, he tells the inspiring stories of the French crew who became the first Allied airmen to bomb Berlin and the six RAF Lancasters who risked everything to fly deep into Germany in daylight.
Bomber! is an enthralling book that takes the reader right into some of the most dangerous missions of the war.
“…with precise, controlled writing, Mr Jackson has made a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the air war …” - The New York Times
Robert Jackson was born in Yorkshire in 1941 and was a full time author from 1969, specialising in aviation and military history. He speaks five different languages and has flown a variety of aircraft, and also lectures on pilot navigation and acts as a consultant to a helicopter company in North-East England.
The bomber crews of World War II left the security of their bases night after night to fly into the heart of enemy territory. In this compelling history of the campaigns they fought, Robert Jackson draws on eye-witness accounts, as well as his own experience as a military pilot, to tell the stories of men overcoming immense danger and terrible odds in pursuit of victory.
In telling detail Jackson describes the heavy American losses in the Schweinfurt-Regensburg campaign, when more than 300 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses aimed to crush Germany's aircraft production but which cost more than 60 planes as it ventured beyond the protection of escorting fighters, and the RAF night raid on Nürnberg, when the Allies lost over 150 heavy bombers and nearly 1,300 aircrew.
More poignantly, he tells the inspiring stories of the French crew who became the first Allied airmen to bomb Berlin and the six RAF Lancasters who risked everything to fly deep into Germany in daylight.
Bomber! is an enthralling book that takes the reader right into some of the most dangerous missions of the war.
“…with precise, controlled writing, Mr Jackson has made a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the air war …” - The New York Times
Robert Jackson was born in Yorkshire in 1941 and was a full time author from 1969, specialising in aviation and military history. He speaks five different languages and has flown a variety of aircraft, and also lectures on pilot navigation and acts as a consultant to a helicopter company in North-East England.
- GenresWorld War II
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 1980
About the author
Robert Jackson
239 books54 followersRobert 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.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 10, 2024
I don't do book reviews......
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way.
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way.
July 5, 2026
A very interesting read. Not long, easily read in a few days. Nonetheless, many interesting facts and bits of history I wasn't aware of, all the result of meticulous research of timeframes and engagements/missions (both on the Allies and German side). Pulled no punches and highlighted both success and spectacular failures on both sides - especially that of the Allies. You'll find the chaters laid out in chronological format, with the focus first on the german attacks on the UK 1040-41, and then later both British and American attacks on Germany. A terrific chapter of the French bombing Berlin (yes, Berlin) in May-June 1940 - a long forgotten series of missions that is actually readily viewable on Wikipedia. I don't believe there were any chapters about experiences in the Pacific or far east (not that i can recall). All in all, helpfully rounds out your reading in this subject area.
June 27, 2020
Informative, but not great
The book was a litany of bombing missions as the title suggests. It was more of a "starter " book on bombing missions where it gives you enough details to go to other sources to dig into the details if you want to. I do have to say that it showed that Bomber Command was at times reckless and inept, leading to a sad waste of precious men and material. Thank heaven we won the war, but at a terribly heavy cost.
The book was a litany of bombing missions as the title suggests. It was more of a "starter " book on bombing missions where it gives you enough details to go to other sources to dig into the details if you want to. I do have to say that it showed that Bomber Command was at times reckless and inept, leading to a sad waste of precious men and material. Thank heaven we won the war, but at a terribly heavy cost.
April 10, 2022
Great Read
An entertaining and easy read on some of the most amazing and heroic bomber missions of the Second World War. A wonderful read covering both theaters and both Allied and Axis missions. A good, light and action packed read.
An entertaining and easy read on some of the most amazing and heroic bomber missions of the Second World War. A wonderful read covering both theaters and both Allied and Axis missions. A good, light and action packed read.
February 17, 2025
Fascinating insight into the individual missions and strategy behind some of the most crucial bomber missions in WW2. The frequently horrific recounting of missions bring a sense of the unimaginable reality of this time.
April 22, 2026
There is an awful lot of information in this book, some of it very detailed (e.g. the names of individual pilots) and therein lies the problem. After reading about a few bombing raids, they all start to seem the same. Nonetheless, its a decent summary of some of WW2's more notable Bombing missions.
March 9, 2020
An interesting read
It's worth reading to find out about the experiences of the crews. This is a well written book that's worth reading
It's worth reading to find out about the experiences of the crews. This is a well written book that's worth reading
July 31, 2019
A detailed description of the bomber efforts in WW2.
A detailed account of the Allied bombing efforts in WW2, both successful and otherwise. It shows what a huge waste war is.
A detailed account of the Allied bombing efforts in WW2, both successful and otherwise. It shows what a huge waste war is.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews