Blenheims Over Greece and Crete: RAF and Greek Blenheims in Action 1940-1941 - Hardcover

Brian Cull

9781781552803: Blenheims Over Greece and Crete: RAF and Greek Blenheims in Action 1940-1941

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1781552800 ISBN 13: 9781781552803

Publisher: Fonthill Media, 2014

The Bristol Blenheim entered Bomber Command service in 1937 and became one of the Command's most important aircraft. On its inception, the Blenheim was fast and sleek, and at the outbreak of war, achieved a number of early firsts. It was the first British aircraft to enter German airspace and attacked warships near Wilhelmshaven. The war, however, showed the Blenheim was outdated and extremely vulnerable to flak and fast Luftwaffe fighters such as the Bf 109 and Bf 110. It suffered horrific losses during the Battle of France: 144 Squadron lost almost its entire bombers in one mission. The fighting in France revealed the Blenheim Mk IV to be under armoured, under armed and slow. Before being replaced by the Wooden Wonder, the mighty Mosquito, the Blenheim soldiered on with almost suicidal consequences for its crews. Blenheims Over Greece and Crete: RAF and Greek Blenheims in Action 1940-1941 covers the operations, often tragic, of the Blenheims during the fighting over Greece and Albania. By the end of the fighting and withdrawal to Crete, all three squadrons had effectively been wiped out, with great sacrifice by the crews involved. One of the airmen involved was No. 30 Squadron's Sgt Lofty Lord whose grandson Simon has amassed much information and photographs, many previously unpublished, from survivors and/or their families. The same three squadrons, with many new crews to replace those lost in Greece, later fought together in Sumatra and Java (the Dutch East Indies) in an endeavour to repel the Japanese invasion. Written by one of the world's leading authorities on Second World War military aviation, this is a gripping account of the heroics of the small band of British and Greek airmen who flew the Blenheims against ever-increasing odds, particularly once the Luftwaffe were determined to decimate them.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Product Description:

On 28 October 1940, Italian forces invaded Greece via Albania, while its air force commenced bombing sorties over western, central and eastern Greece. For its defence, apart from the great fighting spirit of its soldiers, was a mediocre and obsolete collection of mainly biplane fighters, plus a handful of slightly more modern bombers French Potez 63s, Fairey Battles and Blenheims. In fact, the Blenheims were the latest Mark IVs whereas many of the British bomber units in the Middle East were still operating the Mark I. But the Greek Air Force had only one dozen Blenheims. The Greeks promptly pleaded for help from Britain, and the RAF responded in quick time. By 5 November 1940, the first Blenheim unit (30 Squadron) had arrived and was soon followed by two more (84 and 211 Squadrons) plus a squadron of Gladiators. Blenheims over Greece & Crete 1940- 1941 is an account of the heroics of the small band of British and Greek airmen who flew the Blenheims against ever increasing odds, particularly once the Luftwaffe put in an appearance.

About the Author:

BRIAN CULL lives in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and is a full-time researcher/writer on Second World War aviation. He has over twenty-five aviation titles to his credit including: Hurricanes over Malta, Spitfires over Sicily and Hurricanes over Tobruk. Other books include the highly-rated Diver! Diver! Diver! the definitive account of the V1 Flying Bomb campaign Gladiator Ace a biography of Bill Vale DFC Blueon- Blue the first of a series of in-depth accounts of aerial friendly fire from 1939- 40 and Flying Sailors at War FAA 1940. Blenheims over Greece and Crete 1940- 1941 is Brian s third book for Fonthill. Fighters over the Aegean was published in 2012 and First of the Few 5 June 9 July 1940 was published in 2013.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.