Incredible account of wartime aviation bravery and innovation

Loved this historical account of the work of the RAF and USAAF during WWII. The levels of bravery were incredible and difficult for anyone born with the benefit of personal and social freedoms to comprehend. The accounts of allied crews are carefully balanced with those of their German counterparts to create a detailed and very often personal narrative of life in air combat during the war years. Highly recommended!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Full and informative

Have enjoyed the authors previous works and this is just as explorative, informative and places the listener in the era.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

Movingly brilliant and humbling

My great uncle died on the 24 Feb 1944 in a Lancaster during Big Week. I visited his grave in France this summer. Wow. What a book. It bring to life the sacrifices on those young men who gave so much. TYVM James Holland.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

A good focus on the air war

Adrenaline fuelled first hand accounts and tragic stories, views from both sides, great account of a very important moment in WW2.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

Superb account

As usual James Holland delivers. What makes his books better than others is that they are written in a story telling way - it’s not stuffy nor full of fact after mind numbing fact. The characters are brought to life.

The only bug bear for me is the narrator. He reads well, but his pronunciation of certain words make me want to tear the few remaining flecks of hair I have left on my head. For example, his continual pronunciation of “Fock Wulf” as opposed to Fokker, over and over, is ridiculous! Surely someone was on hand to correct him? And pronouncing the Dutch town of Twente as “Twent” sent me over the edge! Poor skills.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

A vivid account

Holland produces a work which as manages to successfully cover the decisions taken in strategic warfare along with the individual human costs. The former in the stark fearful logic of war, the latter with painful clarity of the ordeals suffered on both sides.
There are many worthy books on the WWII air war over the skies of Europe, this one stands with the better ones, and I would recommend for anyone wishing to learn of the motivations at all levels.
There have been some reviews dealing with pronunciation and delivery, I would suggest you simply concentrate on the facts unfolded here; the facts that war is not romantic nor clinical, there is a human costs, then these little niggling criticisms will fade away. (pronunciation of a word here and there....who cares?)
This is an account of the Reality of War. Remember that.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A Gripping Narrative

A thoroughly well researched and fresh look at the air war over Europe in 1943-44.

The author brings together personal accounts and historical information to build a vast panorama of this terrific and terrifying endeavour.

It highlights also how, despite the tide of the war turning in this period, many more sacrifices had to be made by those young airmen of both sides. Thoroughly recommended to anyone interested in this period, both students and casual readers alike.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A well reported and read history

An interesting historical resource of the bombing campaign of Big Week.
Sad loss of life of young men on both sides of the conflict.
Overwhelming resources and manufacturing won the day in the end.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Another brilliant book

This time James Holland take a now little known part of WW2 and looks at if in forensic detail. He builds the backstory perfectly and from both sides of the conflict.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Thoroughly enjoyable

Great book and well read. Lots of fascinating details, very typical of James Holland books.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!