Courage and Air Warfare: The Allied Aircrew Experience in the Second World WarDespite 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 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
56th Fighter Group aborts AFHRA air combat Air Force's Air Ministry Air Surgeon aircraft aircrew selection Allied April Army Air Forces aviators Bomb Group Bombardment Bomber Command bomber pilots British cent Central Medical Board Colonel Combat Crew combat flying Combined Bomber Offensive considered crewmen Despite Eaker Eighth Air Force emotional casualties emotional disorder enemy fatigue fear Fighter Group fighter pilots flak flight surgeons flyers flying duty Flying Training FPRC German gunners important interview July Lack of Moral leaders leadership Leonard Cheshire Library of Congress London majority Max Hastings medical officers military missions Moral Fibre Moreover navigator neuropsychiatric occasionally operations overall physical problems psychiatric psychiatrists Psychological Disorders RAF's Report result Royal Air Force scores Second World Second World War Sept Spaatz MSS Stafford-Clark stanine Statistical Statistical Survey Strategic stress success survival Symonds and Williams target Thames Television tour unit USAF Academy veterans