The Reich Intruders: Dramatic RAF Medium Bomber Raids Over Europe in World War 2

Drawing on first-hand accounts, personal diaries, contemporary photographs, squadron albums and other unpublished archive material, this book chronicles 2 Group and 2nd TAF bomber operations from the outbreak of the war through to the final sortie before VE day. 2 Group, initially flying Bristol Blenheims, were among the first British forces on the frontline, and until Germany's surrender, the Venturas, Bostons, Mosquitoes and Mitchells of 2 Group continued operations against rail and road targets. This text details their near suicidal anti-shipping strikes and daylight raids on targets in occupied Europe, including Operation Oyster, the daylight Eindhoven raid in December 1942 on the Philips electronic factory. It also describes the low-level pinpoint attacks made by the 140 Wing, nicknamed the Gestapo Hunters, against key Nazi buildings in Norway, Denmark, Holland, and France, and explains the 2nd TAF's role in the preparation for D-Day, and their strikes in support of the Allied armies. This book completes Martin Bowman's trilogy, which includes "The Men Who Flew the Mosquito" and "Confounding the Reich". Other works by Martin Bowman are "USAF at War", "8th Air Force at War", "Four Miles High", "Flying to Glory" and "B-24 Liberator 1939-45".