Courage and Air Warfare: The Allied Aircrew Experience in the Second World War

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Psychology Press, 1995 - History - 240 pages
Despite the quantity of material written about the Combined Bomber Offensive during the Second World War, the full human dimension of air combat has not been thoroughly explored. This book investigates the unique nature of aerial warfare and the men who took part. It analyses aircrew selection, reaction to combat, adaptability to stress, morale, leadership and combat effectiveness. First-hand reflections of combat flyers, published materials, reports and official documents are used to compare the efforts of the US Eighth Air Force and RAF Bomber Command. There is an important reason for this comparative method. Although the Allied effort involved two separate air forces, two different philosophical concepts and two distinct approaches, both organizations were committed to a common goal. Comparing the two allows insights into the nature of air combat and its effects on aviators. Aircrew attitudes and motivation are examined, as are the physical and mental hardships which affected aircrew morale, cohesion and combat effectiveness.
 

Contents

Selection and Classification of Aircrew
4
The Nature of Air Combat during the Combined
27
Combat Stress Emotional Breakdown
60
Attitudes and Morale in the Eighth Air Force
89
Aircrew Morale in Bomber Command
115
The Impact of Leadership
137
Moral Fibre and the American Experience
161
Bomber Command and Lack of Moral Fibre
186
Conclusion
209
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