Reaching for the Stars: A History of Bomber Command

by Mark Connelly

Overview

The role of Bomber Command in World War II is still shrouded in mystery. This book provides a new and revisionary narrative of the campaign, serving as both a military history and an investigation into how modern perceptions of Bomber Command have come about. It shows why Bomber Command - in one of the largest and bloodiest campaigns of the war with 55,000 aircrew lost - has received so much attention yet remains a "lost sheep" among British wartime glories, and is still dogged by controversy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781860645914
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/16/2001
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Mark Connelly has been British Academy Lecturer in History at Lancaster University and is now Reuters Lecturer in Media and Propaganda History at the University of Kent.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Hoping the Bomber will always get through
2. The Lion Tries His Wings, September 1939-February 1941
3. Committing Britain to a Bomber War, February 1941-Spring 1942
4. Unleashing the Whirlwind, February 1942-August 1943
5. Berlin 'the Big City'
6. Achieving Victory, Spring 1944-May 1945
7. Remembering and Misremembering, 1945-1999
Conclusion
Appendix A: Bomber and the War Artists Scheme
Appendix B: Journey Together (1945) and The Way to the Stars (1945)
Chronology: Bomber Command
Notes
Bibliographical notes
Index

Editorial Reviews

This surprisingly good thing in a small package is the best introduction to Britain's Bomber Command's World War II operations to appear in some time.” —Booklist

“Mr. Connelly creatively examines unconventional sources to uncover the truths behind the maligning of the Bomber Command.” —Washington Times

From the Publisher

Mr. Connelly creatively examines unconventional sources to uncover the truths behind the maligning of the Bomber Command.

Washington Times

Connelly (media and propaganda history, U. of Kent, Canterbury) presents a history of the British bombing of Germany in World War II. He also examines the attitudes of British citizens towards the British Bomber Command and the horrific task with which the bombers were charged. He contends that the British accepted the bombing campaign as necessary because of their intense fear of the enemy. Distributed in the US by Palgrave. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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