The Sky on Fire

Viac o knihe

Strategic bombing, aimed at crippling an enemy's industrial capabilities and morale, predates World War II and its prominent airpower advocates. In 1917 and 1918, a squadron of German pilots, known as the "England Squadron," executed over four hundred sorties against London and coastal towns using large twin-engine Gotha and Giant bombers. Major Fredette details the bravery of these pilots, the perilous conditions they faced, and the significant destruction they caused, surpassing the infamous Zeppelins in impact. They innovated bomber formation flying, daylight and night bombing, and fire raids, dropping bombs weighing a ton or more on London. Their actions instigated chaos and despair in the city, leading to riots and urgent political responses. In reaction to the bombings, Britain hastily assembled a defense system of aircraft, balloons, guns, and searchlights, culminating in the formation of the Royal Air Force, the world's first independent air force. Fredette’s work offers a gripping account of this pivotal battle, enriched with remarkable photographs of the air war, many published for the first time. As noted by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Slessor, this book fills a crucial gap in the historical narrative of air warfare.