Air Battle of the Ruhr

This is the first full account of this major offensive by the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command against German industry in the Ruhr during World War II.
The author begins by describing the role of Bomber Command and goes on to define the Ruhr area and its great importance in terms of industrial output to the Germans.
The first real assault on the Ruhr took place in March 1942 but the results were disappointing. It was not until the following year that the RAF was to have more success and Alan Cooper describes in detail individual raids, their targets, the aircraft used and the German defences.
Throughout, the author has used personal accounts and anecdotes and he gives vivid descriptions of the fearful effect of German searchlight skills and the strain of flying on raids of up to five to six hours' duration, three hours of which were over enemy territory.
The author provides the statistics for bombers despatched, the number that actually got to the targets and those which never made it for one reason or another.
Air Battle of the Ruhr is a complete overview of a major aspect of the air war against mainland Germany - a subject that has never before been dealt with in such depth. This book fills an important gap in the history of the Royal Air Force.


by Alan Cooper
Published by Wrens Park 2001 edition. 228pp illustrated, index, appendices. 16x23 mint, including d/j.





Note:
"Long" descriptions, where shown, may have been taken from the book's dust jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.