Bombs Gone

Bombs Gone is a unique investigation of British aerial bombing and the weapons used - bombs, mines and torpedoes - from the First World War to the present day. The great diversity of air-dropped weapons ranges from crude, almost home-made devices. such as the anti-Zeppelin bombs used in the First World War, to specialized weapons like the 'Tallboy' and 'Grand Slam' earthquake bombs used in the final stages of the Second World War, and the nuclear devices produced in the 1950s.
In the post-war years, considerable interest has focused on bombers - their development, technical capabilities and performance in operations against the enemy. To some extent, however, their very raison d'etre - the dropping of bombs - has escaped scrutiny. Looking at the bombs themselves, for instance, did they function as intended, destroying their targets? How were they conceived and designed, and what was the rationale behind their use in the first place?
Of equal interest are the men who featured in the development, and frequently heroic use, of these airdropped weapons. This book makes frequent reference to their exploits, and to some of the men, such as Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, who were responsible for shaping Britain's bombing strategy.
An extra dimension of this book is the development of target-finding and marking techniques. These progressed rapidly from pure dead-reckoning to the use, later in the Second World War, of remarkable electronic measures and sophisticated pyrotechnics. They finally progressed to today's technology which made possible a record long-range bombing mission, when a single Vulcan set out to attack the Port Stanley runway during the Falklands war
Wing Commander John MacBean has been closely associated with RAF bombs for more than 40 years, having dropped them, serviced them and loaded them. Arthur Hogben has wide experience as a bomb disposal expert in the Royal Engineers. Together they have combined to provide what Sir Michael Beetham describes in his foreword as "a fascinating story and an invaluable contribution to the history of air warfare."


by Wing Commander John A. MacBean & Major Arthur S. Hogben
Published by PSL 1990 1st edition. 320pp profusely illustrated, index, appendices. 16x24 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jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.

other titles which may be of interest:
(these books may be in different sections of our store; use the section navigation on the right of this page, or your browser's "back" button to return here)

Modern Combat Aircraft No.11 V-Bombers £10.00 find out more