The Reich Intruders

From the outbreak of the Second World War to the eve of VE Day, the medium bomber crews of 2 Group RAF and 2nd Tactical Air Force flew vital operations over Europe. Here their story is told, month by perilous month, often in the words of the airmen themselves, their accounts supported with meticulous research by aviation historian Martin Bowman. Their exploits include the first sorties of the war, near-suicidal anti-shipping 'beats', the famous Operation Oyster to bomb the Philips works at Eindhoven, and other low-level pinpoint attacks against key targets in occupied Europe and Scandinavia. They also helped to provide air cover for the Allied armies in the build-up to D-Day and beyond.
There are no more valuable records of war than the first-hand accounts of men who were actually there. The vividness and honesty of their stories brings into
sharp focus the personal fears yet exhilaration of flying sorties by day and by night, often through heavy flak, sometimes at hedge-hopping or wave-skimming heights, as the squadrons of Blenheims, Mosquitos, Mitchells and Venturas swept across the Continent towards their targets.
The extraordinary valour of these ordinary men is also highlighted and, while sharing in the triumph of their bombing successes, we are not spared the appalling sacrifices, and the failed and aborted raids. Remarkable photographs - a number of them published here for the first time - include aerial views of targets under attack, as well as dramatic portraits of the aircraft involved, and moving personal snapshots.

by Martin Bowman
Published by PSL 1997 1st edition. 192pp profusely illustrated, index. 20x26 fine, d/j very good.
R. A. F. medium bomber operations over Europe in World War Two.

***Signed and inscribed by the Author***





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jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.)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.