Heroes of Bomber Command: Suffolk - Graham Smith

Throughout the Second World War, Suffolk airfields and the airmen of Bomber Command made a large and vital contribution to the war effort.

Just four airfields were established in the county at the outbreak of war in September 1939 - Mildenhall, Stradishall, Wattisham and Honington, along with the hastily requisitioned and makeshift Newmarket Heath. 

Later in the war, new airfields were opened at Chedburgh, Tuddenham and Lakenheath. Wave after wave of aircraft were seen leaving, on their way to bomb enemy ships in the North Sea, industrial targets in Germany and finally strategic targets in France, in preparation of D-Day.

The losses to Bomber Command, both in men and machines, were huge. More than 55,000 airmen were killed, 7,400 were wounded and another 9,800 made prisoners of war. Many heroes emerged and countless gallantry medals were awarded, including several Victoria Crosses and one Croix de Guerre.

In this excellently researched book, Graham Smith describes the air war in Suffolk and the young airmen who flew night after night in the cold and the dark against desperate odds. Their Commander-in-Chief, Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris called them 'the bravest of the brave', an epithet they fully deserved.

Publisher: Countryside Books

ISBN: 9781846741036

Pages: 192

Weight: 340g

Dimensions: 210 x 148 x 12 mm