Lancaster Squadrons 1942-43 (Combat Aircraft)

Lancaster Squadrons 1942-43 (Combat Aircraft)
by Jon Lake

Lancaster Squadrons 1942-43 (Combat Aircraft)
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Book Summary Information

Author: Jon Lake
Illustrator: Chris Davey
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-05-25
ISBN: 1841763136
Number of pages: 96
Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Book Reviews of Lancaster Squadrons 1942-43 (Combat Aircraft)

Book Review: The Avro Lancaster Goes to War!
Summary: 4 Stars

Entering service in December 1941, the Avro Lancaster became the backbone of the RAF's Bomber Command. Yet the bomber's first two years of service were very much a period of trial-and-error as the aircraft assumed the lion's share of ops even as new weapons and tactics were tested and developed. Jon Lake covers Lanc ops during 1942 and 1943 in this 2002 Osprey 'Combat Aircraft' volume, #31 in the series.

Bomber Command's record of achievement was dismal in the early war years, most of its night raids failing to damage the German war effort in any way, shape or form. While the snake-bit Stirling was operational and the more potent Halifax was coming on line, the Lancaster would be Harris' weapon of choice. Initial ops were marked by mis-uses of the Lanc as in the disastrous April 1942 Augsburg mission, strikes against French coastal communities and work with the Capital Ship Bomb. The Lanc however soon showed its war-winning potential in the hands of 44, 97, 61, 207 and other squadrons. The development of the Pathfinder Force and new tactics helped ensure the Lanc would be Bomber Command's most effective tool.

Lake does a workmanlike job of summarizing early Lanc ops. Yet, in trying to cram two years worth of combat into 73 pages, his narrative is sometimes a long recital of missions flown with no details. Likewise, he relied on some 40-odd books in his research, generally foregoing first-person reminiscences, which add spice to a history. For those reasons, the text is rather dry. The book features dozens of photographs, some previously seen. Chris Davey's profiles though are marvelous, depicting 30 Lancs in all their painted glory.

So, if you're a Bomber Command, Lanc or just a generalist 'heavy metal' buff, you'll want to check out this Osprey title. Recommended.

Summary of Lancaster Squadrons 1942-43 (Combat Aircraft)

Osprey's study of the RAF?s most successful heavy bomber of World War II (1939-1945). The Avro Lancaster formed the backbone of Bomber Command during the large-scale night bombing campaign against occupied Europe. In this, the first of two volumes on the British bomber icon of World War 2, noted English aviation historian Jon Lake recounts the early daylight raids, the first ?thousand bomber? raids on Germany and the epic ?Dambusters? mission of 16/17 May 1943 by No 617 Sqn, as well as myriad other sorties to numerous German targets in 1942-43. This volume contains more than 100 photographs, 30 all-new colour profiles by leading aviation artist Chris Davey and specially commissioned scale drawings of the Lancaster B I/II by Mark Styling.

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