Lancaster: Story of a Famous Bomber
Author: Bruce Robertson
Publisher: Harleyford Pub CA
Edition: First
Cover: Hardcover
Published: 1964
Bomb
Synopsis: Bruce Robertson's authoritative account of the Avro Lancaster bomber provides a comprehensive examination of Britain's most successful and iconic heavy bomber of World War II. This meticulously researched work traces the complete development and operational history of the aircraft that would become synonymous with RAF Bomber Command's nighttime strategic bombing campaign against Nazi Germany. Robertson begins with the Lancaster's origins as an improved version of the troubled Manchester bomber, explaining how Roy Chadwick's design team at Avro solved the Manchester's engine problems by replacing the unreliable Vulture engines with four proven Merlin powerplants. The book details the rapid development and testing process that brought the Lancaster into service in early 1942, just as Bomber Command was transitioning to more effective area bombing tactics. The narrative extensively covers the Lancaster's technical specifications and capabilities, explaining how its exceptional payload capacity, range, and handling characteristics made it ideal for the long-range missions over enemy territory. Robertson provides detailed accounts of the aircraft's most famous operations, including the legendary Dambusters raid on German hydroelectric dams, where specially modified Lancasters carried Barnes Wallis's revolutionary bouncing bombs in a precision low-level attack that captured worldwide attention. The book chronicles the Lancaster's role in Bomber Command's main offensive, from early raids on industrial targets to the controversial area bombing of German cities that aimed to break civilian morale. Robertson doesn't avoid the moral complexities of these operations, examining both their strategic justification and their human cost. The author provides extensive coverage of Lancaster variants and special modifications, including the Grand Slam bomb-carrying aircraft that delivered the war's largest conventional weapons against hardened targets like submarine pens and railway viaducts. The narrative includes detailed accounts of specific squadrons and their operations, drawing from logbooks, personal accounts, and official records to recreate the experience of Lancaster crews. Robertson examines the aircraft's performance in various roles beyond strategic bombing, including maritime reconnaissance, mine-laying, and special operations supporting resistance movements across occupied Europe. The book addresses the heavy casualties suffered by Lancaster crews, acknowledging that Bomber Command had one of the war's highest casualty rates among Allied forces. The author provides statistical analysis of the Lancaster's operational record, examining sortie rates, loss percentages, and bombing accuracy throughout the war. The narrative concludes with the Lancaster's post-war service and its lasting legacy as a symbol of British determination during the war's darkest hours, cementing its place as one of history's most significant military aircraft.
Lancaster: Story of a Famous Bomber, is one of the many primary source materials in the Army Air Corps Museum collection.
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