RAF Bomber Command at War, 1939-1945

In 1939, at the start of the Second World War, Bomber Command faced several critical problems: lack of organizational size to effectively operate as a strategic force; lack of political will to establish sufficiently broad rules of engagement; lack of adequate technology to provide high-performance aircraft with suitable bombload capacity; lack of radio and radar technology to provide accurate navigation and bombing (particularly at night); and the belief that unescorted bombing was practicable. [...]the appointment of Sir Arthur Harris (a staunch supporter of area bombing as a main way toward the ultimate defeat Germany) to head Bomber Command provided the leadership required to carry out the job. [...]Armstrong focuses much of this book on those who participated in the bombing raids and on British public attitudes toward the bombing campaign.