A Stirling Effort: Short Stirling Operations at RAF Downham Market 1942-44 - Couverture souple

Smith, Steve

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1911255037 ISBN 13 : 9781911255031

Editeur : Mention the War Ltd, 2016

Synopsis

RAF Downham Market was situated in the flat fens of Norfolk close to the small market town that bears its name. Positioned close to the River Great Ouse, the airfield nestled comfortably into this rural farming landscape. It was from this peaceful setting that the air war was taken to the very heart of Nazi Germany and Northern Italy. The airfield opened for business in the summer of 1942 and from that first day the squadrons would operate almost continuously until VE Day, May 8th 1945. The first and longest occupants were No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron of No.3 Group RAF Bomber Command. They would, in time, be joined by No.623 Squadron and finally No.214 (Federated Malay States) Squadron. All three units were equipped with the massive four-engined Short Stirling. The station was honoured by the award of the Victoria Cross in 1943, won by a 21-year-old Sergeant pilot from Yorkshire, Arthur Aaron DFM. Almost a year later the station saw another Victoria Cross awarded to one of its airmen, a young Canadian, Ian Bazalgette DFC. This book covers the period in which the Short Stirling bomber, and the multitude of nationalities that made up the air and ground crews, operated almost daily. The resident squadrons participated in every major bomber campaign undertaken between the summer of 1942 and winter of 1943/44 when the Stirling, ultimately rendered obsolete by the increasingly vicious German defences, was withdrawn from the skies over Berlin. Steve “Smudger” Smith is the association historian for both 218 (Gold Coast) and 623 Squadrons, a role he has held for almost 15 years. During that time he has researched extensively the operational history of RAF Downham Market and its Stirling squadrons. Steve is the author of ‘A Short War’, the history of 623 Squadron, also available from Mention the War, ‘From St. Vith to Victory’, the story of 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron and co-authored ‘3 Group Bomber Command’ with Chris Ward.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Mention the War Ltd
• Date d'édition: 2016
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1911255037
• ISBN 13: 9781911255031
• Reliure: Broché
• Numéro d'édition: 1
• Nombre de pages: 532
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible