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Bomber Harris : his life and times : the biography of Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Sir Arthur Harris, the wartime chief of Bomber Command / Henry Probert.

Van Pelt Library D786 .P75 2001
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Format:
Book
Author/Creator:
Probert, Henry.
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
Harris, Arthur Travers, Sir, 1892-1984.
Harris, Arthur Travers.
Great Britain. Royal Air Force.
Great Britain. Royal Air Force. Bomber Command.
World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, British.
World War, 1939-1945.
Great Britain. Royal Air Force. Bomber Command--History.
Great Britain.
Great Britain. Royal Air Force--Officers--Biography.
World War, 1939-1945--Great Britain--Biography.
Marshals--Great Britain--Biography.
Marshals.
History.
Genre:
Biographies.
Physical Description:
432 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 24 cm
Place of Publication:
London : Greenhill Books ; Mechanicsburg, PA : Stackpole Books, 2001.
Summary:
This is the definitive biography of one of the most controversial figures of World War II. Sir Arthur Harris remains the target of criticism and vilification by many, while others believe the contribution he and his men made to victory is grossly undervalued. Henry Probert's critical but sympathetic new account draws on recent research and, for the first time, all of Harris's own extensive papers, to give outstanding insight into a man who combined leadership, professionalism and decisiveness with kindness, humour and generosity.
Probert examines Harris's life from youth in Rhodesia to fighting in World War I, the inter-war years, his two families and his post-war years in South Africa and England. He reveals and analyses how Harris did his job in RAF Bomber Command during World War II, how he led his men in the face of appalling casualties, his disagreements with higher authority, his dealings with Churchill, his close links with the Americans, his role in directing the bombing raids against Germany, most notably at Dresden, and the way he was treated afterwards.
Bomber Harris provides the most complete and rounded picture of one of the great high commanders of modern times and an outstanding military personality of World War II.
Contents:
Chapter 1 Roots 19
Chapter 2 Fortunes of war 33
Chapter 3 Carving a career 45
Chapter 4 Preparing for the inevitable 66
Chapter 5 Back to business 86
Chapter 6 Action behind the scenes 109
Chapter 7 The year of experiment 126
Chapter 8 Headquarters and home 150
Chapter 9 The public image 183
Chapter 10 The leader and his men 199
Chapter 11 Tools and techniques 219
Chapter 12 Comrades in arms 239
Chapter 13 From the Ruhr to Berlin 252
Chapter 14 Working for Eisenhower 289
Chapter 15 Finishing the job 305
Chapter 16 Assessment 328
Chapter 17 Enough is enough 342
Chapter 18 Safmarine 365
Chapter 19 Back to base 374
Chapter 20 The Ferry House 387
Chapter 21 The old lags 399
Appendix RFC and RAF promotions and appointments, and medals and decorations 419.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 421-424) and index.
ISBN:
1853674737
OCLC:
47118271

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