This book by Stephen Darlow, sub-titled RAF Bomber Command and the US Eighth Air Force Support to the Normandy Invasion 1944, was first published by Grub Street in 2004. A book of two parts it follows 8 aircrew, 5 RAF and 3 American as well as additional narratives from civilians and ground crew. The first part covers pre D_Day and how the heavy bomber crews spent 3 years 'learning their trade' the hard way. It also covers the Planning aspects of D-Day and the differences of opinion between Leigh-Mallory who wanted to concentrate on Transportation Plan, bombing of railways and other transport An US General Spaatz who wanted to hit German oil production and draw the Luftwaffe up to be defeated and give the Allies air superiority.
Th second part covers D-Day and the aftermath, including operations against V1 launch sites. It also highlights the difficulties in using heavy bombers to support ground troops and cites tragedies when it goes wrong.
An enjoyable read made difficult at times by the experiences and tragedies of the people quoted in the book and it closes with the fates of each of the airmen from the featured crews, from the time they leave the story. The only thing I didn't like was the use of dark shading in the chart in Appendix 5 and why have a picture of a Manchester on the front when the crews involved flew Stirlings, Halifaxes, Lancasters and B 17s?
