Lancaster Down!: The extraordinary tale of seven young bomber aircrew at war

Description

During WWII, on one raid alone, Nuremburg March 1944, more Bomber Command airmen lost their lives than were lost in the Battle of Britain. These were ordinary men who became part of extraordinary events. One such was Arthur Darlow, the author's grandfather. A pilot of a Lancaster crew in 405 RCAF crew, they were one of the legions of men who took the offensive against the enemy for most of the war. Their story, vivdly recreated here, is special. The crew's tour starts with Bomber Command's Main Offensive in late 1943. German night fighters and flak regiments defend their homeland with grim determination and losses are high. But our crew survive. Thousands do not. Darlow's crew continue, through D-Day and the invasion of Western Europe. One day though, they are shot down over Belgium, to become, in turn, prisoner, evader, casualty. Collectively they experience it all. Not romanticised but written with feeling and respect, this book should be read by all age groups.

Steve Darlow is a Bomber Command historian and established military aviation author, with fourteen books to his name. Steve has made numerous radio and television appearances, and recently acted as program consultant on the BBC's The Lancaster: Britain's Flying Past and Channel 5's War Hero in the Family (Robert Llewelyn). Steve is also an Ambassador of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

'The author...tells the story with an eye for detail which vividy portrays the daily and nightly terrors faced by bomber crews.' Western Morning News 'Superbly detailed.' Flypast 'An encounter with reality, of fear and frustration, victory and delight. A worthy successor to the film Memphis Belle.' Oxford Times