The Road to Big Week: The Struggle for Daylight Air Supremacy Over Western Europe, July 1942 – Febru

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This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Aug 31, Mahlon rated it it was amazing Shelves: Eric Hammel is well known for his tactical combat narratives, but in his latest book, The Road to Big Week he proves he is equally adept at writing strategic history as well. In Big Week Hammel traces the evolution of U.

This book is absolutely essential reading for fans of military aviation, or those interested in the Army Air Corps opera Eric Hammel is well known for his tactical combat narratives, but in his latest book, The Road to Big Week he proves he is equally adept at writing strategic history as well. Aug 01, Jonathan rated it it was amazing Shelves: A very accessible account of the rise of American air power and its first application in the attempt to apply the doctrine of daylight precision bombing against Germany. It took a while for the US Army Air Forces to find the right formula, especially the need for long-range escort fighters, but in the end it worked.

The 7-day campaign of "Big Week" in February, was a first taste of the bombing disaster awaiting the Third Reich.

A ripping good read of air warfare in all its aspects. Daniel Jackson rated it liked it Feb 03, Patrick Foley rated it it was amazing Sep 18, Nathaniel Helms rated it it was amazing Dec 28, Geoff Miles rated it really liked it Jan 15, Daniel rated it it was amazing Jan 29, Holli Joyal rated it liked it Jan 07, Cobrachen added it Jan 14, Timothy marked it as to-read Jun 05, Dave marked it as to-read Jan 24, Jason Beck marked it as to-read Aug 23, Jonathan marked it as to-read Nov 21, Dean Brown added it Nov 21, In his summaries later on he does succinctly give some of his views but it is laid on not at all thick and there is well enough detail served up to make your own judgement.

Hand in hand with all the detail comes the legitimate commentary we read that there might even be a bit too much detail. The number of losses of each plane type each day type of detail. I didn't find this an issue myself but I can see why others may wish there was a little less to skim through. This book is about history in detail and operational and strategic decisions and their results. There is little time spent on personal airmen stories, though there is some of that, though true to form with not much dramatic license taken, all short non-fiction vignettes, heroic and tragic.

Of course, this will appeal to some and not to others.

Some things I learned: Air Force instead of the original request to build planes for Europe. While some of the history told, especially for the interwar years, might be considered by some as superfluous and some of the detail a little too, well, detailed, I would recommend this book for the historical side of the genre with lots of insights and interesting details. The author does take some license with some views on the air war without an academic effort to support, however it is really a minor portion of the book and I think he earned the right to propose a few of his own conclusions after offering so much in return.

This book gives a very good background on the USAAF's groping toward the eventual success that it acheived over Germany in Hammel does a very good job of laying out the themes he is moving toward the need for fighter escort, the need for fighter escort to not be shackled to the bombers, etc. It's more like, "you can see the trends here, and they were fulfilled in the period after this book ends, take my word for it.

He's also a little sporadic with his quantitative analysis. Sometimes he lists the shoot-down claims of each side and then shows, from enemy records, what REALLY happened, other times he skips that. Sometimes he distinguishes bomber claims from fighter claims and documents some of those, other times he mashes them together.

The book in this regard feels like it was a little rushed toward a to-spec delivery, but it truly does succeed, even though as the reader you're left wishing that the arguments were tied together a little more tightly. Hammel also includes a lot of really good sections on the Luftwaffe's attempted responses to the 8th AF's campaign.

These, in many ways, are the most compelling part of the book, as Germany is clearly by this point backed into a corner, trying to "do more with less," and succeed against all logic or reason. It makes you think, "what would I do under these circumstances, where my side is clearly going to lose this war, but I must do my best with what few tools I have available to me? So, and despite my loose-end quibbles, this is a good book, well-worth your time, as it very well and clearly lays out the development of US Strategic Bombardment theory and doctrine from World War I to , and the faltering steps to make that theory a reality by See all 11 reviews.

Most recent customer reviews. Published 1 year ago. Published on January 21, Published on January 18, Published on August 20, Published on June 19, Published on November 26, Published on October 1, Published on August 30, Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway. The Road to Big Week: Set up a giveaway. Customers who bought this item also bought. The Men Who Killed the Luftwaffe: Feedback If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.

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This page was last edited on 6 September , at By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Part of World War II. Date 20—25 February For the first time, over 1, bombers are dispatched; 21 bombers and 4 fighters are lost hitting three areas in Germany: The Ninth Air Force's Pathfinder Squadron provisionally activated on 13 Feb takes part in this operation, its first venture into combat.

About civilians were killed, mainly in the bombing of Nijmegen. Bs attack Petershausen marshaling yard and Regensburg aircraft factory in Germany and the air depot at Zagreb, Yugoslavia; a large force of Bs hits Regensburg aircraft plants about the same time as the B attack; other Bs pound the town of Sibenik and the harbor at Zara, Yugoslavia; they claim 40 Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed; 13 bombers are lost.

The Road to Big Week

Bs bomb the industrial complex at Steyr, Austria. Missions , and are flown against targets in France; 7 Bs are lost. Heavy clouds cause over half the bombers dispatched to return without bombing. Escort is provided by 61 Ps. Escort is provided by 81 Ps, 94 Ps and 22 Ps; 1 P is damaged beyond repair; the Ps claim a single German aircraft on the ground. Bad weather makes bombing difficult and causes 34 other Bs to abort.

In the final "Big Week" mission, 4 targets in Germany are hit; 31 bombers and 3 fighters are lost. Continuing coordinated attacks with the Eighth Air Force on European targets, Bs with fighter escorts pound Regensburg aircraft factory; enemy fighter opposition is heavy. The major raid, by aircraft, was to Leipzig; Bs of the U.

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