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OverviewFor Bomber Command, the term 'Phoney War' never really meant much. Five Blenheims of 107 Squadron were among the blood and bullets the day after war was declared and only one came back. On 14 December 1939, in a disastrous raid on shipping, 99 Squadron lost six Wellingtons with only three survivors out of thirty-six crew. Even worse, in the biggest air battle so far, 18 December, Wilhelmshaven, five Wellingtons of 9 Squadron went down, four of 37 Squadron and two of 149 Squadron. Bomber Command lost sixty-eight aircraft and crews in action in the four war months of 1939, and a further seventy-eight in accidents. In the months up to the French surrender, losses rose spectacularly as the Germans triumphed wherever they went. In a few hours on 14 May, resisting the Blitzkrieg, forty-seven Fairey Battles and Bristol Blenheims were shot from the sky. Through the Scandinavian defence, in France and Belgium, at Dunkirk and, at last, over Germany, for Bomber Command there was no Phoney War. It was real war from the start. AUTHOR: Gordon Thorburn is the author of more than twenty books, including the best-selling Men and Sheds. Look out for Pen & Sword's The Luck of a Lancaster and Bomber Command 1939-1940. b/w illustrations Full Product DetailsAuthor: Gordon ThorburnPublisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd Imprint: Pen & Sword Aviation ISBN: 9781399077941ISBN 10: 1399077945 Pages: 192 Publication Date: 30 May 2024 Audience: General/trade , General Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Forthcoming Availability: Not yet available This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release. Table of ContentsReviewsAuthor InformationGORDON THORBURN is the author of more than twenty books, including the best-selling Men and Sheds. Look out for Pen & Sword's The Luck of a Lancaster and Bomber Command 1939-1940. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |