Target Berlin: Mission 250: 6 March 1944 (Greenhill Military Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Jeffrey Ethell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Greenhill Military Paperbacks | Publication Date: May 1, 2002

On March 6th, 1944 the Americans launched their first large-scale daylight raid on Berlin, the capital of Hitler's reich. The price they paid for their audacity was high: sixty-nine heavy bombers and eleven escort fighters failed to return, the highest number in any raid mounted by the 8th Air Force. This account of the mission is a compellingly readable, skillfully researched, minute-by-minute description. It is also the first book on the subject to look at events from the perspective of both sides, drawing on material from over 160 USAAF personnel, Luftwaffe pilots, civilians and German flak gunners. Target Berlin captures the excitement and drama of the operation, bringing to the fore the mounting horror of a mission plagued by misfortune, strong defenses and bad luck. The gripping narrative also sheds light on what it was like to be in Berlin as the bombs began to fall.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeffrey Ethell was an aviation enthusiast, expert author of note. Dr. Alfred Price has written many books on aviation and related subjects, including War in the Fourth Dimension (1853674710) and Battle of Britain Day (1853674192).

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Greenhill Books; First edition (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853674915
• ISBN-13: 978-1853674914
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,146,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You are there in the skies over Europe!, September 30, 2004

By 

Jerry Wilt "JBW857" (Katy, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Target Berlin: Mission 250: 6 March 1944 (Greenhill Military Paperbacks) (Paperback)

Target Berlin recounts the first daylight mission of the 8th Air Force into Berlin on March 6, 1944. The authors do a superb job of writing such that you have the impression of flying along with the pilots (both German and American) over Berlin. You ride along with the B-17 and the B-24 crews as they arise for the morning briefing. The ride continues as the crews assemble over England and head out for the flak-ridden skies over Europe.

The story is juxtaposed with those of the "Little Friends" (the P-51 and P-47 fighter pilots), in addition to first-hand narratives by the German fighter pilots. This is a story which switches between the bombers and the fighter pilots which leads to a realistic "you are there" story.

The reader is also treated to jumping out of the planes after being hit with flak or enemy bullets. You ride down through the skies watching the battle take place around you as you ponder what is must have been like knowing you were about to land in German territory.

Once you get past the first chapter, the book literally takes off. The British have a tendency to go overhead talking about how many planes / bombs / guns each unit (on each side) had, so that first chapter gets a bit tedious. Get through that and you got it made!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched, Well Worth the Hunt, May 10, 1999

By 

Dr. David Arelette (Yarrambat, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Target Berlin: United States 8th Air Force, 6th March 1944 (Hardcover)

The Amazon people had to hunt this book down for me and the cost was worth it.

It is a detailed account, almost a minute at a time of both sides, of the first USAAF raid on Berlin.

I had read a lot on the subject, this was better than the rest - the depth of detail is stunning.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another raid..., April 23, 2006

By 

N. Trachta (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Target Berlin: Mission 250: 6 March 1944 (Greenhill Military Paperbacks) (Paperback)

Target Berlin deals with the first American raid on Berlin: Mission 250; 6 March 1944. Mr. Ethell and Dr. Price tell us the story of the men and their raid on the German capital. This book describes the preparation for the raid, the tactics used (a nice drawing showing the different tactics used by the 1st and 3rd Bombardment Divisions, also of what a bomber looks like on a head on attack at different ranges), and the running battle that ensued. The best part of the book is the appendix; they contain a listing of the aircraft lost by the Germans and the Americans and the cause of their loss.

While I love books dealing with WWII aerial warfare, Target Berlin just isn't as good as others I've read. The authors do a great job telling us a story, but there's no love or life in the story. I'd rather read The Munster Raid: Bloody Skies Over German, or one by Martin Middlebrook. A definite 4 star book.