In 1940, the defence of Great Britain rested with a handful of volunteer aircrew, Churchill's 'few'. Overshadowed in later folklore by the more famous Spitfire and Hurricane pilots, there were other pilots, observers and air gunners - just as courageous - flying the Bristol Blenheim MKIV-F. The future of the country and arguably that of the free world depended also on their skill, morale and sacrifice. Remarkably little has been chronicled of these men and their aircraft - the 'Trade Protection' squadrons formed by Hugh Dowding - allotted to 11 Group in October 1939. The aircraft's range and endurance made it suitable for defence of coastal shipping against attack on the southern and eastern shores of Britain, and for operations further afield. Indeed during bitter fighting casualties among Numbers 235, 236, 248 and 254 Squadron Blenheims were high on operations over Norway, Holland, France, Dunkirk and then the Battle of Britain where the Blenheims were completely outclassed by Messerschmitt 109 and 110 fighters and fell easy victims, scythed from the sky. But the record of the aircraft and their crew was an immensely proud one. Drawing on contemporary diaries, periodicals, letters, logbooks, memoirs and interviews with survivors, lauded historian Andy Bird reassesses the vital role they played and repositions it in history. In doing so, he justifiably embraces the heroes we have left behind.
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This fine book shines a well deserved spotlight on four Blenheim 'Trade Protection' squadrons... I recommend it strongly. --Graham Warner - President of Bristol Blenheim Society
A well-researched publication. This is a valuable addition to the aviation histories of the Second World War --Britain at War magazine
A very interesting, well-researched and well-written book. --AHB RAF Northolt
A well-researched publication. This is a valuable addition to the aviation histories of the Second World War --Britain at War magazine
A very interesting, well-researched and well-written book. --AHB RAF Northolt
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Detailed unit histories like this are generally interesting, and of course the period covered is highly dramatic, but I have to say this book would have benefited greatly from a little careful editing. The grammar is haphazard, the description of events is often very confusing, dates are mixed up, there are all sorts of odd digressions, etc.
To cite just a few examples, according to the author Churchill gave his famous speech about "so many owing so much to so few" on June 18 (page 103), which seems a bit premature. Then on August 19 he gives it again (page 155). Most people seem to agree that the date was August 20. Similarly, pilots ditching in the Channel in January 1940 are met by a LDV patrol, complete with "rusting antique rifles" (page 26) when they reach the shore, which seems unlikely as the LDV was only raised in May.
On page 161 Canadian squadron leader McNab tries to prevent his pilots from attacking Blenheims by mistake, but in vain: one is shot down. Then on page 162, a few hours later, he has apparently forgotten that there was a mistake involved and the shocking truth is revealed to him by his station commander.
I could go on for a while. Technology has made writing, editing and publishing far easier, but it seems as if books are rushed into print faster and faster and often none of the many people listed in forewords and acknowledgements has had the time to take a good close last look at the finished product. Pity.
To cite just a few examples, according to the author Churchill gave his famous speech about "so many owing so much to so few" on June 18 (page 103), which seems a bit premature. Then on August 19 he gives it again (page 155). Most people seem to agree that the date was August 20. Similarly, pilots ditching in the Channel in January 1940 are met by a LDV patrol, complete with "rusting antique rifles" (page 26) when they reach the shore, which seems unlikely as the LDV was only raised in May.
On page 161 Canadian squadron leader McNab tries to prevent his pilots from attacking Blenheims by mistake, but in vain: one is shot down. Then on page 162, a few hours later, he has apparently forgotten that there was a mistake involved and the shocking truth is revealed to him by his station commander.
I could go on for a while. Technology has made writing, editing and publishing far easier, but it seems as if books are rushed into print faster and faster and often none of the many people listed in forewords and acknowledgements has had the time to take a good close last look at the finished product. Pity.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Battersea81
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Anybody interested in the early weeks and months of World War II must read this book. While it focuses on the Coastal Command Squadrons that bore the brunt of the first skirmishes around England's shores, it gives a brilliant account, through the various missions, detachments, and stories, of how the war unfolded in late 1939 and early 1940 across northern Europe and Scandinavia as the opposing sides organised themselves.
The aircrew that flew during these early days of the war were flying aircraft that provided little resistance to the German fighters squadrons based only miles away across the English Channel after the fall of France. While the losses were exceedingly high in both aircraft and crew, the period set the scene for the Battle of Britain, and stemmed the enemy's appetite for invasion.
Andy Bird has captured an era of Coastal Command where few were left to talk or write about their experiences. An in-depth account and an exceptional piece of research.
For me this is a personal account of 235 Squadron from its very first days which are brought to life in this book. Excellent
The aircrew that flew during these early days of the war were flying aircraft that provided little resistance to the German fighters squadrons based only miles away across the English Channel after the fall of France. While the losses were exceedingly high in both aircraft and crew, the period set the scene for the Battle of Britain, and stemmed the enemy's appetite for invasion.
Andy Bird has captured an era of Coastal Command where few were left to talk or write about their experiences. An in-depth account and an exceptional piece of research.
For me this is a personal account of 235 Squadron from its very first days which are brought to life in this book. Excellent
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Sally Hedley
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was a present for my father who was one of the Blenheim pilots mentioned in Coastal Dawn. The author used some of my father's war time photographs and entries from his Log Book in the book and, as my father is now 94 years old, he loved seeing them and read it from cover to cover.
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