Lancaster: The Second World Wars Greatest Bomber

Yet without the Lancaster, Britain would never have been able to take the fight to the German homeland. Highlights the scale of the bomber s achievements, including the famous Dambusters attacks. With its vast bomb bay, ease of handling and surprising speed, the mighty Lancaster transformed the effectiveness of the Bomber Command.

Whilst addressing the political controversy surrounding the bombing offensive against Germany, Leo McKinstry also weaves individual tales into this compelling narrative. Rich characters are brought to life, such as Roy Chadwick the designer, who taught himself engineering at night school and Sir Arthur Harris, the austere head of the Bomber Command.

This is a rich saga, a story of triumph over disaster and the history of an iconic plane. Victor of the Battle of Britain. This thorough, engaging new history seeks to draw together all aspects of the bomber and its career The saga is one of courage, tragedy and drama They are exciting, chilling, and sad at the same time. The descriptions provided by the author vividly brought out the situations the crews faced, inside the crammed bomber for hours, the thoughts that went through their minds before, during, and after their missions, but most of all the camaraderie among them.

I must also mention that a lot of description was also given on the dynamics within the command, from the government to the Air Ministry to the commander of Bomber Command, Sir Arthur Harris. The book surely cannot be faulted for poor scholarship, for if the author can cover almost every aspect of the bomber, he must have done his work. Alas, this also is for me a problem because some parts become too dry, others become a little of a letdown.

For example, I was eagerly looking forward to this chapter called 'The Tirpitz was doomed' thinking that it must be one that is dedicated to the destruction of the ship. But the first half of that chapter was on something else to avoid being too much of a spoiler. I must stress again that I have tremendous respect for the author's scholarship and efforts. But for me, there are just too many parts that are too heavy-going for me. But for anyone who wants to know this great bomber, there are few better places to start. Oct 17, Susan Paxton rated it it was amazing Shelves: Definitely the best "airplane biography" I've ever read, McKinstry details the career of the Lancaster, starting with its inception as a four-engined variant of the unlovable Manchester, and throughout its sterling service in World War II, and even beyond.

Along the way, the author covers a great deal of ground and a wide array of topics very ably - famous Lancaster missions like the Dambusters raid, controversy including a very thorough discussion of Dresden , the ground crews, the workers who Definitely the best "airplane biography" I've ever read, McKinstry details the career of the Lancaster, starting with its inception as a four-engined variant of the unlovable Manchester, and throughout its sterling service in World War II, and even beyond. Along the way, the author covers a great deal of ground and a wide array of topics very ably - famous Lancaster missions like the Dambusters raid, controversy including a very thorough discussion of Dresden , the ground crews, the workers who built the airplanes, VC missions, designer Roy Chadwick, and a sympathetic portrait of the impossible Sir Arthur Harris.

Overall this book is so good that I ran out and bought his book on the Spitfire before I even finished this one. Very, very highly recommended! Jan 17, Russ rated it really liked it. In addition to the story of the Lancaster the author also discusses the controversial history of Bomber Command's activity in the war, including it's use of the tactic of area bombing. It also goes into some of the leading personalities linked to the Lancaster story, such as designer Roy Chadwick and Bomber Harris, in charge of Bomber Command through much of the war, and one of the leading proponents of area bombing.

Thoroughly recommended if you like this sort of thing, and very well detailed. Mar 23, Lee Donohue rated it it was amazing. A beautifully written book by author Leo McKinstry, about the history behind what may have been one of the greatest four-engined aircraft of World War II, and how it was used in the conflict.

From its disastrous beginning to its successful use to the very end of the war, and even after, the author in fine detail presents the reader the rich history of the Lancaster bomber. A marvelous book which was slightly difficult for me to read but definitely worth the time. Oct 21, Robert Hepple rated it really liked it.

The looks at the bomber from several viewpoints, including design, leadership, procedures at bases, and different missions during the war. The text mainly consists of anecdotes from around the viewpoint areas, coming from a huge number of specified sources. Since the book mainly consists of information repeated from other named sources, it makes few judgements, but mostly presents the viewpoints. At this point, it should be clear that this is not a technical book, nor is it a concise operational record of the Lancaster.

Added to which, many of the anecdotes relate to issues not unique to the Lancaster — for example many of the operations discussed were combined raids by a number of bomber types, and other bombers had tailwheels. There are a number of dubious claims, as well as downright errors in the text, in addition to quite a few typos. Two photo sections contain 37 illustrations representing various aspects of the Lancasters history. I did finish the book with the impression that the dominant theme of the book is not the Lancaster, but actually Arthur Harris and his problematic relationship with his wartime peers.

I enjoyed this book — it may be highly derivative and lacking in focus at times, but it makes an interesting read about the times in which the Lancaster was such a truly terrifying weapon of war. Feb 04, David Evans rated it really liked it Shelves: Having read Paul Brickhill's superb book on the Dambusters as a child I have always adored this aeroplane.

Now I know that it is not only famous but brilliant and that this brilliance is due to it's designer, Roy Chadwick. This is clearly a man who should have a statue to him. Defensive armament was provided by one 7. There is no ventral gun position, which proved to be a weak point that could be exploited by enemy fighters attacking from below.

There was also a later version of the Betty known as the Model 24 with bulged bomb bay doors and a heavier defensive armament. In this model the 7. The B was the definitive American medium bomber and a most successful and useful design. It was used successfully in all theatres of the war. Mitchell's the aircraft was named for U. The prototype XB first flew on 19 Aug It was a twin-engined, all-metal, mid-wing cantilever monoplane with characteristic twin vertical stabilizers. Mitchell's were produced in many variations including medium bomber, ground attack, trainer TB and long range photo reconnaissance versions, the latter being designated the F Power for the BJ precision bomber model was provided by two Wright Cyclone R double row radial engines with two-speed superchargers h.

The normal crew was six and all crew positions were protected by armor plate. Wing span was 67' 7", length 53' 5. Maximum internal bomb load was 6, pounds or a single 2, pound torpedo plus up to 2, pounds of bombs on external racks. Depth charges could also be carried by aircraft engaged in maritime roles. Defensive armament usually included one fixed and one trainable.

That is a total of eight heavy machine guns, making the BJ a very heavily defended medium bomber. These are the "jacks of all trades" of the bomber world. Some were twin engined and some were single engined. They were employed from land bases and also aircraft carriers. The Stormovic, for example, was the scourge of German armored vehicles on the Eastern Front. In some instances, such as the Stuka during the Battle of France and the Dauntless during the Battle of Midway, they were instrumental in securing great victories that altered the course of the war.

Sergei Iliuchin's Stormovic was an attack bomber specifically designed to provide close support to the Red Army and it proved to be the battle winner on the Eastern Front. It was probably the finest aircraft of its type for its intended purpose of the Second World War. Stalin personally gave the Stormovic production priority over all other Soviet aircraft and tens of thousands were produced during the war. The IL-2 was a two seat, single engined, low-wing cantilever monoplane. The front of the fuselage was of metal construction while the rear fuselage was made of wood. The control surfaces were fabric covered.

Power was provided by a 1, h. M liqui- cooled V engine that was optimized for low level operation. Armament included two fixed, forward firing 23mm cannons and two. For special missions a pair of 37mm cannon could be carried externally in a removable gun pod. Normal bomb load was eight ground attack fragmentation rockets, fired from four launch rails located under each wing.

The Stormovic had a 47' 10" wingspan and an overall length of 38'.

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Its top speed was about M. The underside of the engine as well as the bottom, sides and back of the crew compartment was heavily armored to protect against ground fire.

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In effect the crew sat in an armored "bath tub. Thus the Stormovic formations required fighter escort when operating in the vicinity of German fighters. The need to protect the Stormovic explains why most Red Air Force fighters were optimized for low to mid altitude operation. Navy's Dauntless carrier based scout bomber went into production in June of and remained in production until July, , by which time some 5, had been built.

Some versions of the SBD were equipped for long range photo reconnaissance. It was Dauntless dive bombers that sank four Japanese attack carriers during the battle of Midway, the turning point of the Pacific War.

Lancaster - The Second World War's Greatest Bomber: Leo McKinstry

SBD's also formed the dive bomber component of the famed "Cactus Air Force" during the long and bitter battle of attrition for possession of Guadalcanal Island. For the first two years of the war the SDB was the only American dive bomber. It was operated from U. The Dauntless was a two seat, low-wing cantilever monoplane. The definitive SBD-6 was Duralumin framed with a flush riveted aluminum skin and fabric covered rudder and elevator control surfaces.

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The crew sat pilot in front and the gunner behind beneath a continuous transparent canopy protected by armor and a bullet-proof windscreen. Power was provided by a single Wright R Cyclone air-cooled, 9-cylinder radial engine that developed 1, h. Wingspan was 41' and length 32'. Empty weight was 6, pounds and fully loaded for dive bombing missions the Dauntless weighed 9, pounds. Range in scout bomber configuration was miles. A swinging bomb cradle beneath the fuselage could accommodate a single 1, pound or pound bomb.

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In addition, a pound bomb could be carried on the single hard points located below each wing. Typical payload for dive bombing and especially anti-ship missions would be one 1, pound and two pound bombs. Typical payload for scout bomber missions would be one pound and two pound bombs with an increased fuel load for greater range.

The Mosquito served in all theatres of the war. It was another of those extremely versatile aircraft that was eventually produced in light bomber, fighter-bomber, day fighter, night fighter, night intruder, trainer and reconnaissance versions. There was the Mk. As a reconnaissance aircraft the Mosquito became the RAF's most valuable source of aerial intelligence and as a night ground attack intruder it was the scourge of Nazi occupied Europe. De Havilland built the fuselage and wings of the Mosquito largely of plywood and spruce with a plywood skin in an effort to reduce the consumption of strategic materials such as aluminum.

Never the less, the Mosquito turned out to be one of the most successful warplanes of the Second World War and arguably the best light bomber in historical context ever produced. Over its production life it was built in a myriad of Marks numerically up to at least the Mk. The Mosquito was a mid-wing cantilever monoplane with a crew of two that was powered by two liquid-cooled Rolls Royce Merlin V engines.

The crew sat side by side in the cabin and bomber versions had a Plexiglas nose for bomb aiming. Fighter versions had a solid nose with armor protection. The Mosquito carried no defensive armament, relying on its speed to evade enemy fighters. The representative Mark XVI bomber could carry a single 4, pound bomb in its extended internal bomb bay up from 3, pounds in earlier versions and two external 50 gallon drop tanks under the wings. Alternatively, a bomb load of four pound bombs and two gallon drop tanks could be accommodated.

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Wingspan was 54' 2"; length was 44' 6". The maximum take-off weight was 25, pounds. Its top speed was over M. XVI featured a pressurized at 2 lbs. This versatile aircraft was more or less America's counterpart to the British Mosquito and German Ju Like those aircraft the A performed level bomber, ground attack and night fighter missions.

The A was a twin-engined, all-metal, mid-wing cantilever design. These were fed gas and oil from self-sealing tanks. Dimensions included a 70' wing span and a length of 50' 9". Normal loaded weight was 27, pounds and maximum weight was 32, pounds. The AB had a closed-in nose in which was mounted six.

Lancaster : The Second World War's Greatest Bomber

There was an internal bomb bay with hydraulically operated doors and external bomb racks under the wings. The AC had a glazed nose with two forward firing. This model served as the lead aircraft for level bomber missions. Otherwise the two models were very similar. Defensive armament for both the B and C models included remote controlled, power operated dorsal and ventral turrets with two. The upper turret could be locked to fire forward and was then controlled by the pilot.

The Grumman designed Avenger was perhaps the most successful carrier borne torpedo bomber of the war.