During World War II, RAF Bomber Command was a major component of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and played a crucial role in the Allied strategic bombing campaign against Germany and occupied Europe. Formed in 1936, Bomber Command's primary objective was to conduct long-range bombing missions against enemy targets, primarily industrial centers and military infrastructure.
  • '55,573 young men died flying with Bomber Command during World War Two; that's more than those who serve in the entire Royal Air Force today.'   Source: About Bomber Command | Bomber Command Memorial (rafbf.org)
  • ... the Eighth suffered about half of the U.S. Army Air Force's casualties (47,483 out of 115,332), including more than 26,000 dead.  Source: Eighth Air Force History > 8th Air Force/J-GSOC > Display (af.mil)
  • 'The most dangerous theatre of operations for Australians in the Second World War was the air war over Europe. Almost one in five Australian airmen to serve in Britain did not survive the war. For those members of the RAAF serving in RAF Bomber Command, more than one in three were killed; amounting to 20 per cent of all Australian combat losses in the Second World War. Different sources give varying numbers of Australians killed while serving in Bomber Command, from 3,486 (cited in the Australian Official History) to 4,059 (in the British Official History).' Source: RAAF losses in Bomber Command: understanding the numbers | Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au)
SEE:  MILITARY HISTORY INDEX PAGES AND COLLECTIONS ON THE RAAF RUNWAY 
RAAF RUNWAY: RATIONALE, GUIDELINES, LEARNING OUTCOMES, ETC

 

1981
Military History

RAF Bomber Command During The Second World War

The RAF and USAF's bombing offensive against Nazi Germany was one of the most extended, Allied campaigns of WW2. Fifty-five thousand RAF aircrew lost their lives; this includes four thousand Australian aircrew serving in Bomber Command. The USAF conducted its own air campaign against Germany and lost twenty-six thousand aircrew who were serving with the Eighth Air Force.
17 minutes
1554
Military History

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1265
Military History

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20 minutes
Archived
1859
Military History

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14 minutes
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134
Military History

Operation Carthage: Precise Inaccuracy

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60 minutes
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1479
A P-51 Mustang during an aerial display, at the 2018 Temora Warbirds Downunder.
Military History

P-51 Mustang’s Switch to Merlin Engine Made it the World-beater of World War II

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11 minutes
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1459
A P-51 Mustang and a Supermarine Spitfire perform an aerobatic display at the Wings Over Illawarra 2017 air show
Military History

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The P-51 Mustang was the perfect example of an American fighter aircraft in WW2—Pilots loved the plane for its responsiveness and agility.
10 minutes
Archived
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Leadership

RAF Centre for Air Power Studies Historic Interview - Sir Arthur Harris

Interview with 'Bomber' Harris, commander of Bomber Command during WW2.