Lancaster: The Forging of a Very British Legend by John Nichol
Publication Date: July 8, 2020
Out in Canada in October 2020.
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Description from NetGalley...
“Sir Arthur Harris, the controversial chief of Royal Air Force Bomber Command, described the Lancaster as his 'shining sword' and the 'greatest single factor in winning the war'. RAF bomber squadrons carried out offensive operations from the first day of the Second World War until the very last, more than five and a half years later. They flew nearly 300,000 sorties and dropped around a million tons of explosives, as well as life-saving supplies. Over 10,000 of their aircraft never returned. Of the 7,377 Lancasters built during the conflict, more than half were lost to enemy action or training accidents.
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The human cost was staggering. Of the 125,000 men who served in Bomber Command, over 55,000 were killed and another 8,400 were wounded. Some 10,000 survived being shot down, only to become prisoners of war. In simple, brutal terms, Harris's aircrew had only a 40 per cent chance of surviving the war unscathed.”
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Thank you to @NetGalley, @simonschusteruk for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
Nichol himself was a heroic RAF navigator. He was shot down, captured and tortured during the first Gulf War. In this book he told the story of a “legendary aircraft that took the fight deep into the heart of Nazi Germany.” I’m a history buff, especially about war history. I developed my interest because of my dad, and now it’s a shared interest with my husband. As a lay-person, I found this book to be truly epic in its’ telling of the iconic Lancaster. The story is thrilling and moving. You read about the human dramas, personal stories and sacrifices of the men and women who kept this mighty Lancaster airborne when the world needed hope. It reads like I’m watching a documentary. There are some technical jargons. I’m not an airplane expert. From what I know, this book is just a superb read.