Air Power and the Evacuation of Dunkirk
Title | Air Power and the Evacuation of Dunkirk PDF eBook |
Author | Harry Raffal |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Total Pages | 267 |
Release | 2021-07-15 |
Genre | History |
ISBN | 1350180475 |
The evacuation of Dunkirk has been immortalised in books, prints and films, narrated as a story of an outnumbered, inexperienced RAF defeating the battle-hardened Luftwaffe and protecting the evacuation. This book revives the historiography by analysing the air operations during the evacuation. Raffal draws from German and English sources, many for the first time in the context of Operation DYNAMO, to argue that both sides suffered a defeat over Dunkirk. . This work examines the resources and tactics of both sides during DYNAMO and challenges the traditional view that the Luftwaffe held the advantage. The success that the Luftwaffe achieved during DYNAMO, including halting daylight evacuations on 1 June, is evaluated and the supporting role of RAF Bomber and Coastal Command is explored in detail for the first time. Concluding that the RAF was not responsible for the Luftwaffe's failure to prevent the evacuation, Raffal demonstrates that the reasons lay elsewhere.
Air Power and the Evacuation of Dunkirk
Title | Air Power and the Evacuation of Dunkirk PDF eBook |
Author | Harry Raffal |
Publisher | |
Total Pages | 304 |
Release | 2021 |
Genre | Air power |
ISBN | 9781350180482 |
Acknowledgements -- List of Figures and Tables -- Abbreviations Introduction -- 1. The Two Forces -- 2. The Luftwaffe's Attacks on Dynamo, 29 May and 1 June -- 3. German Artillery Fire and the Suspension of Daylight Evacuations -- 4. The Luftwaffe's Attacks on Dunkirk Before 29 May -- 5. The Luftwaffe's Attacks on Dunkirk on 30?31 May -- 6. Results, Limitations and Potential of Luftwaffe Night Attacks and Mine Operations -- 7. RAF and Luftwaffe Fighter Operations during Dynamo -- 8. The Operations of Coastal Command and the Fleet Air Arm -- 9. The Operations of Bomber Command -- Conclusions -- Bibliography -- Index.
Air Power and the Evacuation of Dunkirk
Title | Air Power and the Evacuation of Dunkirk PDF eBook |
Author | Harry Raffal |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Total Pages | 352 |
Release | 2021-07-15 |
Genre | History |
ISBN | 1350180467 |
The evacuation of Dunkirk has been immortalised in books, prints and films, narrated as a story of an outnumbered, inexperienced RAF defeating the battle-hardened Luftwaffe and protecting the evacuation. This book revives the historiography by analysing the air operations during the evacuation. Raffal draws from German and English sources, many for the first time in the context of Operation DYNAMO, to argue that both sides suffered a defeat over Dunkirk. . This work examines the resources and tactics of both sides during DYNAMO and challenges the traditional view that the Luftwaffe held the advantage. The success that the Luftwaffe achieved during DYNAMO, including halting daylight evacuations on 1 June, is evaluated and the supporting role of RAF Bomber and Coastal Command is explored in detail for the first time. Concluding that the RAF was not responsible for the Luftwaffe's failure to prevent the evacuation, Raffal demonstrates that the reasons lay elsewhere.
Dunkirk Evacuation, Operation Dynamo
Title | Dunkirk Evacuation, Operation Dynamo PDF eBook |
Author | John Grehan |
Publisher | Frontline Books |
Total Pages | 273 |
Release | 2020-04-30 |
Genre | History |
ISBN | 1526770369 |
“Takes you right to the scene of the action in late May and early June 1940, when more than 300,000 soldiers were saved from capture or death.” —Rambles The “miracle” of Dunkirk is one of the most inspiring stories of all time. The British Expeditionary Force had been all but surrounded, and, with the French armies collapsing on all sides, it appeared that Britain was about to suffer the heaviest defeat in its history. When Winston Churchill’s War Cabinet finally accepted that the Battle of France had been lost, preparations were made to try and rescue as many soldiers as possible from one of the few ports left open to the British Expeditionary Force—Dunkirk. So rushed and chaotic was the retreat to the Channel coast, with thousands of guns, vehicles and tanks being abandoned, there was little time for soldiers to consider taking photographs of the shocking scenes of death and destruction which surrounded them. Yet images do exist of the ships and boats of all descriptions which braved the bombs and guns of the German Air Force to rescue Britain’s only field army from the clutches of Hitler’s panzer divisions. One man in particular, Sub-Lieutenant John Rutherford Crosby, a member of the crew of the minesweeper, and converted Clyde paddle steamer, HMS Oriole, left a legacy of dramatic images. These include the never-to-be-forgotten scenes of long lines of tired and anxious troops stretching into the sea and of bombs exploding on the packed beaches—all with his own personal little camera. Other images in this book paint a vivid and memorable picture, as no words ever could, of the greatest evacuation of troops under fire.
Air Battle for Dunkirk, 26 May–3 June 1940
Title | Air Battle for Dunkirk, 26 May–3 June 1940 PDF eBook |
Author | Norman Franks |
Publisher | Grub Street |
Total Pages | 177 |
Release | 2006-07-19 |
Genre | History |
ISBN | 1909166499 |
A gripping account of the Royal Air Force’s daring exploits during the heroic evacuation of Allied troops from France in World War II. “Where is the RAF?” was the oft-quoted question asked by soldiers waiting on the beach at Dunkirk, to where they had retreated following the German blitzkrieg through northern France, and where they were now being pounded by the Luftwaffe. The air forces were there, as Norman Franks proves, detailing the outstanding achievements of the Allied pilots who fought, using outmoded tactics, against enemy pilots who had earlier had easy victories over the Polish, Dutch and Belgian air forces. The RAF’s achievement reminds us just how close Britain came to disaster in June 1940. “An absorbing read, which vindicates the RAF.” —RAF Historical Journal “Leveraging mission logs and splicing firsthand written accounts, the narrative is both cohesive and seamless. The details are incredibly rich, yet not burdensome.” —Air & Space Power Journal “With the recent release of the blockbuster film on the same subject, Franks’ recounting of the air battle for Dunkirk is timely for those who left the movie theater wanting more . . . Air Battle for Dunkirk is recommended for those who loved the film and wanted more context. This book is especially recommended for those who are interested in aviation history.” —Nicole Granados, Picture This Post
Air Battle for Dunkirk
Title | Air Battle for Dunkirk PDF eBook |
Author | Norman Franks |
Publisher | |
Total Pages | |
Release | 2017-05-31 |
Genre | History |
ISBN | 9781910690475 |
With the epic blockbuster film Dunkirk, to be released in July 2017, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring, amongst others, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hardy and Mark Rylance, this reissue has never been more timely. 'Where is the RAF?' was the oft-quoted question asked by soldiers waiting on the beach at Dunkirk, to where they had retreated following the German blitzkrieg through northern France, and where they were now being pounded by the Luftwaffe. The air forces were there, as Norman Franks proves, detailing the outstanding achievements of the Allied pilots who fought, using outmoded tactics, against enemy pilots who had earlier had easy victories over the Polish, Dutch and Belgian air forces. The RAF's achievement reminds us just how close Britain came to disaster in June 1940.
Operation Dynamo
Title | Operation Dynamo PDF eBook |
Author | Tim Benbow |
Publisher | Naval Staff Histories of the S |
Total Pages | 0 |
Release | 2016 |
Genre | History |
ISBN | 9781910294598 |
"In May 1940, as France collapsed in the face of the German blitzkrieg, the British army and some French forces fell back on the Channel coast. The advancing Germans pushed them back and then briefly paused, confident that this cornered remnant of the allied forces was trapped. Yet the German command had failed to appreciate just what sea power could do to deny them the full fruits of their apparent victory; at short notice an evacuation was improvised which, it was initially thought, might if all went well last two days and rescue 45,000 men. The heroic rear guard action of the troops ashore against the renewed German advance, the ability of the RAF to provide just enough air cover, the tireless efforts of naval crews and those manning the priceless 'little ships', and the organisational genius of Vice Admiral Bertram Ramsay saw Operation Dynamo succeed beyond all realistic expectation: two days became nine, and over 338,000 men were saved. Operational disaster in the Battle of France did not become strategic defeat in the war, and albeit at great cost to the Navy, the British army survived to be rebuilt. Above all, Britain could continue to fight. This volume reproduces the complete text of the Battle Summary written shortly after the war by the Admiralty historical staff, comprising a detailed and authoritative account of these dramatic events. This is accompanied by a comprehensive introduction, newly written for this volume, that explains the context for the operation as well as an overview of further reading on the subject."--Publisher website.