Lancaster Squadrons 1942-43 (Combat Aircraft) [Paperback]

Jon Lake (Author), Chris Davey (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Combat Aircraft | Publication Date: May 25, 2002

Osprey's study of the RAF’s most successful heavy bomber of World War II (1939-1945). The Avro Lancaster formed the backbone of Bomber Command during the large-scale night bombing campaign against occupied Europe. In this, the first of two volumes on the British bomber icon of World War 2, noted English aviation historian Jon Lake recounts the early daylight raids, the first ‘thousand bomber’ raids on Germany and the epic ‘Dambusters’ mission of 16/17 May 1943 by No 617 Sqn, as well as myriad other sorties to numerous German targets in 1942-43. This volume contains more than 100 photographs, 30 all-new colour profiles by leading aviation artist Chris Davey and specially commissioned scale drawings of the Lancaster B I/II by Mark Styling.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Osprey's Combat series combines the best archival photography available with specially commissioned artworks and first hand accounts, making these books favourites amongst historians, modellers and aviation enthusiasts everywhere.

About the Author

Jon Lake is one of Britain's leading aviation journalists/historians, and secretary of the Freelance Aviation Journalists' Association. He has written a range of books for Osprey, including the well-received Combat Aircraft volumes on the Blenheim and the Halifax.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (May 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841763136
• ISBN-13: 978-1841763132
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,120,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Lancaster Squadrons 1942-1943 (PB), December 13, 2011

By 

fungchung - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lancaster Squadrons 1942-43 (Combat Aircraft) (Paperback)

What a wonderful aircraft the Lancaster is. A main factor that is given in this book from the very first page to the very last. Even though the life of this aircraft is only very short, the history and information given in this book is simply amazing. Mainly due to the simple fact that British ingenuity made the Lancaster a very versitile and adaptable weapon of war. The only task it could/did not adapt to, because it was not allowed to, was that being attached to Coastal Command against the dreaded U-Boat threat. For Harris resisted those from the Admiralty from having his bombers used for such a tasking that was best served with the aircraft then in use. However, that aside, Jon Lake has done a magnificent job with this book and has done credit to this magnificent aircraft. Not only to the design team, or to the men and woman who built her but also to the the brave men who flew the Lancaster into harms way over hostile airspace on a regular basis. The facts given within the pages of this book are educational to old buffs like me. Especially in the last chapter regarding the Dam Buster raid. Which highlighted a few facts that for me were not known.Well worth a purchase folks. The follow up edition covering 1944-1945 has alredy been covered by myself. Disappointent with this book is not on the menu folks.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Avro Lancaster Goes to War!, September 24, 2009

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lancaster Squadrons 1942-43 (Combat Aircraft) (Paperback)

Entering service in December 1941, the Avro Lancaster became the backbone of the RAF's Bomber Command. Yet the bomber's first two years of service were very much a period of trial-and-error as the aircraft assumed the lion's share of ops even as new weapons and tactics were tested and developed. Jon Lake covers Lanc ops during 1942 and 1943 in this 2002 Osprey 'Combat Aircraft' volume, #31 in the series.

Bomber Command's record of achievement was dismal in the early war years, most of its night raids failing to damage the German war effort in any way, shape or form. While the snake-bit Stirling was operational and the more potent Halifax was coming on line, the Lancaster would be Harris' weapon of choice. Initial ops were marked by mis-uses of the Lanc as in the disastrous April 1942 Augsburg mission, strikes against French coastal communities and work with the Capital Ship Bomb. The Lanc however soon showed its war-winning potential in the hands of 44, 97, 61, 207 and other squadrons. The development of the Pathfinder Force and new tactics helped ensure the Lanc would be Bomber Command's most effective tool.

Lake does a workmanlike job of summarizing early Lanc ops. Yet, in trying to cram two years worth of combat into 73 pages, his narrative is sometimes a long recital of missions flown with no details. Likewise, he relied on some 40-odd books in his research, generally foregoing first-person reminiscences, which add spice to a history. For those reasons, the text is rather dry. The book features dozens of photographs, some previously seen. Chris Davey's profiles though are marvelous, depicting 30 Lancs in all their painted glory.

So, if you're a Bomber Command, Lanc or just a generalist 'heavy metal' buff, you'll want to check out this Osprey title. Recommended.