book - International Bomber Command Centre

Women In Aviation

Helen IBCC — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 14:22:14 +0000

Amy Johnson and Amelia Earhart may be the most famous trailblazing women within the world of early aviation, but there were many others. From the Wright brothers’ sister Katherine, who was awarded the Légion d’honneur, to Mary, Lady Heath, the first woman to pilot a light aircraft from South Africa to England, the history of aviation is peppered with pioneering women who broke down the barriers of this male-dominated field. This is the story of those female aviators: not only the widely celebrated records of Johnson and Earhart, but also the now lesser-known exploits of those such as Mary, Lady Bailey, who was awarded an OBE in 1930. This essential guide also covers the new opportunities carved out for women during the Second World War, the age of space flight and women’s ongoing work in aviation in the modern age of equality.

Published	27 Jun 2019
Format	Paperback


ISBN	9781784423636
Imprint	Shire Publications
Illustrations	Fully illustrated throughout
Dimensions	210 x 149 mm

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Main Force To Mosquito Master Bomber

Helen IBCC — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 12:29:57 +0000

Wing Commander Eric Benjamin was no stranger to danger or excitement. In an action-packed career as part of the RAF Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR), he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice for his bravery under fire. He flew Fairey Battles with No. 150 Squadron during the Battle of France, Main Force Avro Lancasters with No. 61 Squadron during the Battle of Berlin, and De Havilland Mosquitoes as an elite Pathfinder Master Bomber in the latter stages of the war. He survived being shot down on his first operation, when his air gunner was severely wounded, and was among the last RAF aircrew to be evacuated from France in the summer of 1940. He was pulled clear of the mangled wreckage of a Vickers Wellington that crashed in flames during a spell as an instructor, narrowly escaping with his life for a second time, and ‘starred’ as a Flight Commander interviewed for Pathé News after a successful raid on Berlin in 1943. Towards the end of 1944, he achieved his ambition of flying Mosquitoes, and was selected and trained as a Master Bomber, operating as part of No. 54 Base in No. 5 Group and helping to mop up what was left of German industry and military might. It was from one of these sorties that his aircraft failed to return.

Authored by Sean Feast and Eric’s daughter Jeannie, the book includes numerous previously unpublished photographs of Eric, his colleagues, and the aircraft he flew. An inveterate letter writer, Eric once said of flying that there was ‘no greater sport’. He died as he had lived, doing what he loved best.

Pages: 192
Illustrations: approx 45 black and white illustrations
ISBN: 9781838068745
Published: 13th May 2024

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Backbone of Britain : Women in War, 1939 – 45

Nicky van der Drift — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:45:30 +0000

World War II changed women’s lives – and British society – for ever.

In World War II, British women were still largely spared, or excluded from, combat roles. But the need for their capabilities demanded military service of more and more of them, and in roles where they faced the same risks as men. And the total nature of the war meant danger for all those on the Home Front too.

by 1943, in the UK 90 percent of single women of working age, and 80 percent of married women, were working outside the home in the armed forces, industry and other wartime organisations. Long-held notions of the limited capabilities of women became untenable in the light of the vast and varied contributions. Yet their courage, achievements and commitment are still insufficiently recognised.

Ten such “Women in War” have been memorialised with silhouettes, commissioned from “Standing with Giants”, installed at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincolnshire. Their stories – bold, brave, committed and sometimes tragic – are told in this book, together with histories of the many new and different organisations with which they and other wartime women were involved.

This installation could not have been carried out without the support of companies, organisations and individuals who share the IBCC’s belief in the importance of these stories.

We hope the stories of the lives of these women in wartime will continue to be an inspiration to succeeding generations.

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Mosquito Victory

Helen IBCC — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 10:57:50 +0000

The compelling autobiographical sequel to Lancaster Target graphically and humorously describes all aspects of life as a WWII RAF bomber pilot on ‘rest’. Mess life and antics intermingle with Jack’s real task of instructing trainees on the fourengined Halifax bomber. Following his return to operational duties as a glider pilot, Jack was later posted to the élite Pathfinder force flying Mosquitoes of 1409 Weather Flight as a ‘Weather Spy’ where his weather signals provided vital information for the advancing bomber stream. An illuminating portrait of RAF life.

Product description

ISBN: 9780907579335

Binding: Paperback

Pages: 176

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Painted Wings by Robin Smith

Nicky van der Drift — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:14:46 +0000

With over 50 of Smith's paintings featured on the right hand pages, accompanied by sketches, photos, and text on the left hand pages explaining the thoughts and ideas behind each image.

Extract from Foreword: "I have often wished that I had the wall space to hang more of Robin's paintings, but now we can have them all in this wonderful book. Not only can we revel in the art, but in addition Robin provides us with explanatory notes with each picture, telling the historical background to the subject and giving some fascinating detail into his thoughts and his artistic 'tricks' in painting them. I am so pleased he has decided to put this book 'Painted Wings', together for our delight and I hope you enjoy it." Sqn Ldr Clive Rowley MBE RAF (Rtd) - former Officer Commanding RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and RAF fighter pilot.

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Bomber Command: Churchill’s Greatest Triumph

Nicky van der Drift — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:51:28 +0000

While researching what his father, Roland MacKenzie DFC, did as a Lancaster bomber pilot in the Second World War, retired Vancouver lawyer Roddy MacKenzie became increasingly aware of vagueness and some criticism regarding Bomber Command’s accomplishments. The emphasis was usually on the bravery of the ‘Bomber Boys’, the gallantry of specific sorties, such as the Dambusters, or post-war bombing controversies.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Air World (16 Jan. 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1399017721
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1399017725
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.51 x 3.81 x 23.37 cm

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From Coningsby to the Far East.. and Back Again

Nicky van der Drift — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 09:26:35 +0000

Author Elizabeth McElwee charts the experience of Flt Lt George William Milson DFC from joining the RAF Volunteer Reserve as a trainee pilot in 1939, through his time on operations from the UK, Western Desert and in the Far East,

He became one of the thousands of Far East Prisoners of War [FEPOWs] and spent three and a half years in captivity in various POW camps until the Japanese surrendered in 1945.

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Wartime Industry

laserred — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:49:52 +0000

An illustrated introduction to how British industries, supported by thousands of newly recruited women, strove to meet the nation’s wartime need for munitions, armour, shipping, uniforms and aircraft.

During the Second World War (1939–45), Britain stretched every sinew of its industrial might to fend off a Nazi invasion. As the nation stood alone against Fortress Europe, it harnessed, coordinated and maximised its resources, firstly to defend itself and then to help liberate Axis-occupied countries. Wartime Industry uses informative text and beautiful illustrations to show how the men and women of Britain met this unprecedented demand for military and home-front materials. It explores the work of Lord Beaverbrook’s highly organised Ministry of Aircraft Production; the ‘Shadow Factories’ that enabled manufacturers such as Vauxhall and Rootes to make tanks and aircraft; the Royal Ordnance Factories that produced firearms and explosives; the ‘Bevin Boys’ conscripted to work in the coal mines; the Women’s Timber Corps; and war workers – who, together, helped the nation to make it.

Format: Paperback

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The Victoria Cross Raids

laserred — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:48:33 +0000

The crews of Bomber Command are often described as the bravest of the brave. They knew the risks. Night after night they flew into the dark and smoke-filled skies of the continent. The odds on them returning safely were frighteningly low. They had youth on their side: the average age was 22. Their motto was ‘Press On Regardless’.

No less than 23 Victoria Crosses were won by men from Bomber Command. This book tells the story of the actions behind those awards. Some, such as Guy Gibson, are already legendary heroes. Others, such as Hughie Edwards, are less well known. Edwards led a near suicidal daylight raid on the docks at Bremen in 1941. Only eight aircraft survived and all these were badly damaged by flak. The chimney pot height they had flown at was witnessed by the telegraph wires still wrapped around one plane’s rear wheel.

This book is a testament to all those who flew with Bomber Command.

Paperback 192 pages and fully illustrated.

ISBN 9781846743221

Dimensions

23cm x 16cm x 1.5cm

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The Thousand Bomber Raids

laserred — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:47:43 +0000

1942 was a crucial year for the fortunes of Bomber Command. The newly appointed Commander-in-Chief, Sir Arthur Harris, knew he had to show quickly that his ideas for broader, strategic bombing could make a real difference to the war, so with Churchill’s blessing he set about planning a vast initial air attack using at least one thousand bombers.

It was Cologne which became the target of the colossal raid on the night of 30th May 1942. The success of that first raid was convincing while the two major follow up ‘Thousand’ raids on Essen and Bremen in June were less so, but still emphatically justified Bomber Command’s new expansive and aggressive role.

More importantly, the raids forced an outraged Hitler to divert large and increasingly scarce military resources to the defence of his German cities.

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