RAF'S CROSS-CHANNEL OFFENSIVE

RAF'S CROSS-CHANNEL OFFENSIVE 
By John Starkey. 


Following the Battle of Britain and changes at the top of Fighter Command, it was decided that a more offensive approach of flying missions across to France should begin. These flights were given names like 'Rhubarb' and 'Circus' and varied in their aims.
Some were sorties flown by bombers set as 'bait', with a fighter escort keeping their distance in the hope of drawing the Luftwaffe into engaging. 
On other occasions fighters would fly low-level nuisance raids targeting Luftwaffe airfields with quick strafing attacks. 

Unpopular with most RAF pilots, they proved costly in losses of both fighters and pilots, many who were now very experienced from the recent battles over Southern England.

Using many first-hand accounts and statistics, this highly readable and very interesting account reveals more on a period that is rarely covered in previous books. It certainly helped to fill a huge gap in my knowledge of what 'the few' did next.

The hardback book is available now, published by Air World an imprint of Pen and Sword Books. 
I thank P&S for this review copy. 

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