{"title":"Raf Bomber Command Profiles","description":"\u003cp\u003eDelve into the daring world of RAF Bomber Command with these detailed profiles. Explore the aircraft, crews, and missions that shaped history. A must-read for aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"115-squadron-book-chris-ward-9781911255420","title":"115 Squadron","description":"Formed on 1st December 1917, 115 Squadron did not see action until it arrived in France in September 1918, when it commenced bombing operations against German industrial targets for what remained of the Great War. Following its return to England, the squadron was disbanded in October 1919, and spent most of the inter-war years 'on the shelf'. Reformation took place on 15th June 1937 at Marham, with the squadron initially being equipped with the Fairey Hendon and then Handley Page Harrow bombers, until on 3rd April 1939 it re-equipped with the Vickers Wellington.As one of 3 Group's front-line bombing units, 115 Squadron spent the last few months of peace preparing for the impending conflict. After a low-key beginning the squadron then moved to the forefront of the Group's operations for the remainder of the war. The Wellington was phased out and 115 Squadron became the first in Bomber Command to take on charge the Hercules-powered Lancaster Mk.II. This was replaced in 1944 by the iconic Merlin-powered Mks I and III Lancasters. Operating successively from RAF stations at Marham, Mildenhall, East Wretham and Little Snoring, in November 1943 the squadron settled at Witchford, near Ely in Cambridgeshire, from where it saw out the remainder of the conflict. Its battle honours were forged in the heat of all Bomber Command's major campaigns over Occupied Europe, including The Ruhr, Berlin, Overlord, and the Oil and Transportation Plans.By the end of hostilities, 115 Squadron had participated in 678 bombing and mining raids, totalling 7,753 sorties. In doing so, the unit lost 208 aircraft on operations, the highest total in Bomber Command. 115 Squadron still serves today's Royal Air Force, one of the few that can trace their origin back to the Great War. Chris Ward's profile of this venerable unit covers the hardest days of its history, the Second World War, from which it emerged bloodied but unbowed.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":50893206192401,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50893206421777,"sku":"GOR014109228","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52756165329169,"sku":"NIN9781911255420","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1911255428.jpg?v=1750997184"},{"product_id":"101-squadron-book-chris-ward-9781911255215","title":"101 Squadron","description":"101 Squadron has a long and glorious history, having been formed within the Royal Flying Corps in 1917. Transferred into the new Royal Air Force, the squadron disbanded after the Armistice. It was reformed in March 1928 and has remained in existence almost continuously ever since. Amongst numerous types, the squadron flew the Boulton-Paul Overstrand, introducing into RAF service the first powered gun turret. This achievement is commemorated in the squadron's official badge. Just before the outbreak of the Second World War, 101 Squadron re-equipped with the Bristol Blenheim, initially as a training and conversion unit. The war became real for the squadron after the fall of France, and it played a full part in the Battle of Britain, attacking enemy invasion barges and airfields, before moving into an anti-shipping role. The intensifying bombing war then occupied the squadron for the duration of hostilities. After eighteen months with the Wellington bomber, 101 Squadron found its weapon of choice, the mighty Lancaster. With this iconic aircraft, the unit became legendary. The Luftwaffe's night fighters were, by this time, becoming a lethal adversary and counter-measures were urgently needed if the bomber streams were to get through to their targets. 101 Squadron found its ultimate niche in the use of the highly-secret 'Airborne Cigar' (ABC) radio equipment, which allowed each aircraft so equipped to jam three German radio channels simultaneously. This had a very significant effect in reducing the capability of the defenders. 101 Squadron and its crews took part in every major campaign by Bomber Command, though this was inevitably at a high cost, with seven Lancasters out of twenty-six lost in a single night. The unit flew on more bombing raids than any other squadron in Bomber Command, but suffered the highest casualties, with 1176 airmen killed in action. Chris Ward's profile of 101 Squadron is a comprehensive history of the unit through World War Two and contains details of every aircraft operated between 1939 and 1945. The operational records are set in the context of the bombing campaign and leavened with personal stories. It is illustrated throughout with some 200 photographs, many never previously published, these having been provided by the 101 Squadron Association archives and private individuals, including the personal collection of Flight Lieutenant Rusty Waughman, DFC. This book is the definitive history of one of the RAF's most illustrious squadrons.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51452290990353,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51452291383569,"sku":"GOR014285474","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51540635582737,"sku":"GOR011842893","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52411464253713,"sku":"GOR014518529","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1911255215.jpg?v=1751426359"},{"product_id":"10-squadron-book-chris-ward-9781911255499","title":"10 Squadron","description":null,"brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52100541645073,"sku":"GOR014465703","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781911255499.jpg?v=1757089984"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-ie\/collections\/raf-bomber-command-profiles-book-series.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}