Sign-In
Cart
83 Squadron: RAF Bomber Command Profiles
Paperback
Series: Bomber Command Squadron Profiles, Book 37
Please select the version of book you would like to purchase.
ISBN10: 1915335744
ISBN13: 9781915335746
Publisher: Aviation Books Ltd.
Published: Dec 3 2025
Pages: 408
Weight: 2.07
Height: 0.84 Width: 8.50 Depth: 11.00
Language: English
ISBN13: 9781915335746
Publisher: Aviation Books Ltd.
Published: Dec 3 2025
Pages: 408
Weight: 2.07
Height: 0.84 Width: 8.50 Depth: 11.00
Language: English
This is a new and expanded edition of Chris Ward's authoritative operational history of 83 Squadron. The squadron began the Second World War as one of six front-line
units representing 5 Group and, together with 49 Squadron,
occupied the well-established station at Scampton, four miles north
units representing 5 Group and, together with 49 Squadron,
occupied the well-established station at Scampton, four miles north
of Lincoln. P/O Guy Gibson, the future leader of 617 Squadron, had
joined 83 Squadron in 1937 in the rank of pilot officer and, at the outbreak
of war, had not progressed a single step up the commission totem pole. The
squadron operated on the first day of the War and, when Gibson was posted
out in September 1940 with almost forty operations behind him, he was the
last of the originals, most of his closest friends and mentors having sacrificed
their lives or, at the very least, their freedom. After Gibson and his contemporaries departed, a new squadron arose with
a spirit of its own. Equipped with the trusty twin-engine Hampden medium
bomber, the squadron continued to play a magnificent part during the dark
days of 1940 and 1941, roaming deep into Germany to attack economic
and industrial targets, albeit, to little effect. With 1942 came the passing of
the Hampden and the brief interlude with the ill-fated Manchester, but then
came the Lancaster, and from May to August of that year, 83 Squadron was at
the tip of the 5 Group spear. When the Pathfinder Force was formed in August 1942, 83 Squadron was
selected as a founder member. It continued proudly to serve the Command
in that role through the campaigns against Italy, the Ruhr, Hamburg and Berlin.
Its commanding officers were renowned for leading from the front; three
lost their lives on operations, two of them during the Berlin offensive. In April
1944, advances in bombing tactics led to the effective independence of 5
Group, and 83 Squadron returned to its former family to perform a marking
and illuminating role on permanent loan from 8 Group until war's end.
There was never a time when the influence of 83 Squadron was not
felt within the ranks of Bomber Command. It distinguished itself with
outstanding performances and below average losses from the first day of
the war to the last. Its achievements will live forever in the annals of RAF
Bomber Command in WWII.
joined 83 Squadron in 1937 in the rank of pilot officer and, at the outbreak
of war, had not progressed a single step up the commission totem pole. The
squadron operated on the first day of the War and, when Gibson was posted
out in September 1940 with almost forty operations behind him, he was the
last of the originals, most of his closest friends and mentors having sacrificed
their lives or, at the very least, their freedom. After Gibson and his contemporaries departed, a new squadron arose with
a spirit of its own. Equipped with the trusty twin-engine Hampden medium
bomber, the squadron continued to play a magnificent part during the dark
days of 1940 and 1941, roaming deep into Germany to attack economic
and industrial targets, albeit, to little effect. With 1942 came the passing of
the Hampden and the brief interlude with the ill-fated Manchester, but then
came the Lancaster, and from May to August of that year, 83 Squadron was at
the tip of the 5 Group spear. When the Pathfinder Force was formed in August 1942, 83 Squadron was
selected as a founder member. It continued proudly to serve the Command
in that role through the campaigns against Italy, the Ruhr, Hamburg and Berlin.
Its commanding officers were renowned for leading from the front; three
lost their lives on operations, two of them during the Berlin offensive. In April
1944, advances in bombing tactics led to the effective independence of 5
Group, and 83 Squadron returned to its former family to perform a marking
and illuminating role on permanent loan from 8 Group until war's end.
There was never a time when the influence of 83 Squadron was not
felt within the ranks of Bomber Command. It distinguished itself with
outstanding performances and below average losses from the first day of
the war to the last. Its achievements will live forever in the annals of RAF
Bomber Command in WWII.
Also from
Ward, Chris
Black History Leaders: Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Oprah Winfrey, and Condoleezza Rice
Ward, Chris
Paperback
$23.99
Also in
Gifts & Stationery General
Go-To Notebook with Mohawk Paper, Midnight Blue Blank: (Blank Notebooks, Simple Notebook, Blue Notebook)
Chronicle Books
Other
$14.99
This Earthly Globe: A Venetian Geographer and the Quest to Map the World
Andrea Di Robilant
Paperback
$10.99
Flow Hive's Book of Bees and Beekeeping: Protect, Enjoy, Harvest
Anderson, Cedar
Anderson, Stuart
Hardcover
$26.59
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Snoopy (Officially Licensed Peanuts Product)
Publications International Ltd
New Seasons
Brain Games
Paperback
$11.98
The Official Pumpkin Spice Café Cookbook: 60 Delicious Dream Harbor Recipes
Gilmore, Laurie
Thomas, Heather
Hardcover
$20.90
Bear Hugs Notecards: (Cute Notecards, Notecards for Friends, Artistic Notecards with Envelopes)
Chronicle Books
Other
$16.95
The Investor's Odyssey: Resisting the Sirens and Playing the Long Game
Mayer, Christopher W.
Hardcover
$23.70
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Flowers & Nature Stained Glass (28 Images to Sticker)
Brain Games
New Seasons
Publications International Ltd
Paperback
$16.98
Learning Japanese Hiragana and Katakana: A Workbook for Self-Study
Takagaki, Tetsuo
Henshall, Kenneth G.
Paperback
$13.25
Brain Games - Sticker by Number - Vintage: Animals (28 Images to Sticker)
New Seasons
Brain Games
Publications International Ltd
Paperback
$16.98
3-Color Botanical Cyanotype Kit: Beginner-Friendly Solar Printing Kit for DIY Nature Art
Rafferty, Sarah Bourne
Hardcover
$23.74
Once Upon a Cookbook: A Treasury of Recipes Inspired by Timeless Children's Books
Taylor, Bryton
Hardcover
$22.49
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Gilded Gardens (24 Images to Sticker): Includes 2 Foil Sticker Sheets to Complete Each Image!
New Seasons
Brain Games
Publications International Ltd
Paperback
$19.98
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Be Calm (28 Images to Sticker)
New Seasons
Brain Games
Publications International Ltd
Paperback
$16.98
After Dinner Amusements: Truth or Dare for Couples: 50 Questions and Challenges
Chronicle Books
Other
$8.95
The Three Books of Enoch, Plus the Enoch Portions of the Book of Jasher
Ben Elisha, Ishmael
Paperback
$13.14
The World of Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None a 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Illustrated by Ruby Ash
Agatha Christie Ltd, Agatha Christie
Other
$23.99
Tesla & The Cabbage Patch Kids: Exploring the lost Empire of Tartaria and the Reset of 1776
Anderson, Guy Peter
Paperback
$23.99
Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing: I Survived Threshing Stickers - Sticker Set of 4
Out of Print
Paperback
$12.00
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Cozy Capybaras: Includes a Foil Sticker Sheet to Complete Each Image!
Publications International Ltd
New Seasons
Brain Games
Paperback
$11.98
Book Club Bar: Literary-Inspired Drink Recipes for Your Next Great Read
Esten, Nat
Neary, Erin
Hardcover
$22.50
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Enchanted Wonders (36 Images to Sticker): Includes Foil Stickers!
New Seasons
Brain Games
Publications International Ltd
Paperback
$22.98
Brain Games - Search and Sticker: Animals (for Kids Ages 3-6)
Little Grasshopper Books
Publications International Ltd
Paperback
$9.48
Faith Sprout The 66 Roots Journey: Understand Every Book of the Bible Without Getting Lost
Ross, John
Paperback
$20.39