Bomber Command Handbook

by Jonathan Falconer | Reference |
ISBN: 075093171x Global Overview for this book
Registered by keithpp of Farnborough, Hampshire United Kingdom on 12/27/2007
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Journal Entry 1 by keithpp from Farnborough, Hampshire United Kingdom on Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Bomber Command Handbook by Jonathan Falconer is an excellent overview and reference to Bomber Command during the Second World War, 1939-1945.

It does though unfortunately contain some very serious errors.

On take-off, it was the flight engineer, not the bomb aimer, who eased the throttles through the gate for full take-off power. It was the flight engineer, not the wireless operator, who pushed the Window out of the chute. The Window, bundles of metallic foil designed to confuse enemy radar, was stacked at the side of the flight engineer ready for use.

At least that was the procedure on the Avro Lancaster according to flight engineer Harry Parkins, veteran of many missions over enemy held territory.

The author Jonathan Falconer does not specify the aircraft he is referring to in his chapter on a typical night's op. He could therefore be referring to a different aircraft, where the procedures are different.

But these errors to one side, the Bomber Command Handbook is an otherwise excellent handbook to Bomber Command during WWII.

The Bomber Command Handbook has useful appendices listing bombing operations, squadrons, airfields, and epilogue listing places to visit.

Pictured in the Bomber Command Handbook, Avro Lancaster VNON was flown by Harry Parkins, and his memoirs of Bomber Command during WWII make interesting reading

http://www.heureka.clara.net/lincolnshire/harry-parkins.htm

For more on the Avro Lancaster see

http://www.heureka.clara.net/lincolnshire/avro-lancaster.htm

Also worth reading

The Lancaster Story by Peter Jacobs

and

Bomber Boys by Patrick Bishop [see BCID 607211]

Well worth a visit is the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, the former RAF East Kirkby. Star exhibit is Just Jane NX611, one of the few surviving Lancasters.

http://www.heureka.clara.net/lincolnshire/lincs-aviation.htm

There are many other locations nearby also worth visiting, including Petwood Hotel, requisitioned during WWII, as the Officers Mess for the Dambusters, 617 Squadron.

http://www.heureka.clara.net/lincolnshire/petwood-hotel.htm


Journal Entry 2 by keithpp at Library in Washingborough, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 28, 2007

Released 16 yrs ago (12/28/2007 UTC) at Library in Washingborough, Lincolnshire United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Strictly speaking not released in the little village library at Washingborough, near the historic city of Lincoln. The Bomber Command Handbook by Jonathan Falconer is to be found in the reference section of the library.

Library ref: AD 03560658

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