This author really needs no accolade from the likes of me. Once again, he provides an excellent description and analysis of WWII equipment, tactics, operational method, and strategic impact in a well-blended and thoroughly researched manner.

Allied industrial/military intelligence identified the German oil industry as a critical point in their infrastructure, the crippling of which would lead not only to severe logistics issues (including the loss of associated key chemical by-products such as nitrogen for explosives) but also attrition of German fighter defences in aerial combat.

The book focuses on the operational and strategic aspects of the campaign rather than detailed (but still adequate) descriptions of equipment – aircraft and anti-aircraft, radar and anti-radar – so is ideal for that level of wargaming. There are numerous tables of bomb tonnage, sorties, oil production, fighter strength, etc set against a background of mammoth air 'missions', with up to 2,000 Allied bombers and fighters at a time. German fighter losses in the later engagements were horrific – up to 50% of aircraft engaged.

An excellent account, with a good bibliography too.

Chris Jarvis, Miniature Wargames

This fascinating book packed with key photos and illustrations examines the controversies and debates over the focus of the US bombing campaign in the final year of the war, and the impact it had on the war effort overall. This campaign was so successful the Luftwaffe had to ground most of its aircraft due to the fuel shortage caused by the campaign.

Jason Hubbard, Irregular Magazine

The 12 pages of exceptional artwork covering the type's various colour schemes are by Polish artist Janusz Swiatlon, and will no doubt be of great value to scale modellers. Recommended.

Aviation News