Biplanes And Bombsights

Pips · 26 January 2007, 02:53 PM

To give it it's full title:
Biplanes and Bombsights: British Bombing in World War I; by George K. Williams.

Sounds very interesting, just wondered if anyone has read it? Below is an extract from the inside cover.

Colonel Williams presents a comprehensive study of British bombing efforts in the Great War. He contends that the official version of costs and results underplays the costs while overplaying the results. Supported by postwar findings of both US and British evaluation teams, he argues that British bombing efforts were significantly less effective than heretofore believed. Colonel Williams also presents a strong argument that German air defenses caused considerably less damage to British forces than pilot error, malfunctioning aircraft, and bad weather. That we believed otherwise supports the notion that British bombing raids had forced Germany to transfer significant air assets to defend against them. Williams, however, found no evidence that any such transfer occurred. Actual results, Colonel Williams argues, stand in strong contrast to claimed results.

dpolglaze · 26 January 2007, 07:02 PM

Cobby,

It's on my shelf but I haven't read it. Perusing the bibliography, I see that a number of unpublished sources were used, including manuscripts at the Bodleian Library at Oxford (2), The Imperial War Museum (3), RAF Hendon (4), and the USAF Museum at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (US Air Service Papers), as well as a number of records at the British PRO (now the National Archives).

Perhaps it's time to give it a whirl.

Dan

Pips · 26 January 2007, 08:05 PM

I think I will go ahead and order it anyway. I find it a very interesting subject, and it should make a nice companion to the new (2006) edition of Martel's "French Strategic and Tactical Bombardment Forces of World War I", which has only recently finally arrived!

Can anyone recommend a book that deals with the subject of the German bombing effort in WWI?

27 January 2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobby

Can anyone recommend a book that deals with the subject of the German bombing effort in WWI?

Hi Cobby,

If you are talking about strategic efforts, may I recommend The Sky on Fire: The First Battle of Britain, 1917-1918 by Raymond Fredette.

Amazon.com: The Sky on Fire: The First Battle of Britain, 1917-1918 (Smithsonian History of Aviation) (9780817353476): Raymond H. Fredette: Books

Besides giving a great account of Germany's aims during the Gotha and Zeppelin bombing campaigns, it also delves into the British response to the bombing.

Now, if you are talking tactical in nature, just pick-up a copy of Schlachtflieger!, written by our very own Rick Duiven and Dan-San Abbott!

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschi...sbn=0764324411

regards,

Darren