Martin Middlebrook, historian, Bomber Command, Great War
 

Re: Martin Middlebrook, historian, Bomber Command, Great War
 

He wrote some excellent books, in a very 'matter-of-fact' style. He was a farmer in Lincolnshire rather than a 'historian'. We had an exchange of correspondence (pre-internet long hand) about certain Luftwaffe pilots. Apparently once he'd finished a book his research material went in the bin...

Re: Martin Middlebrook, historian, Bomber Command, Great War
 

Re: Martin Middlebrook, historian, Bomber Command, Great War
 

Rest in peace!

Re: Martin Middlebrook, historian, Bomber Command, Great War
 

Re: Martin Middlebrook, historian, Bomber Command, Great War
 

He inspired quite a number of "follow-up" Historians and his books (pre-computer time) all well written and researched, with hundreds of contacts with veterans, etc. A fantastic and inspiring work.
When I visited Herr Martin Drewes, here in Brazil, in 1996, he mentioned that he did not know how Middlebrook lived, because one need much much time to go all throughout that DATA and information and surely he (Middlebrook) did not have time for anything else....anyway....Drewes' words....and a Tribute to Middlebrook's RAF books.
His works inspired me to read, research and write my own stories and works. Am sure that others are also in "debt" with the "old man's inspiration".
If memory does not fail me, Leonardo da Vinci wrote a magnificent text, which can fully be applied to Middlebrook and his works/books. It is more or less like that: "May your work be well done, so that it remains after your death."
May your memory and legacy survive and inspire other Historians and Researchers in England and all over the world.
May his Family be proud of what he had done to preserve the RAF and England's History.

Re: Martin Middlebrook, historian, Bomber Command, Great War
 

FALKE EINS, I humbly disagree here with you that he was a farmer rather than a Historian...in the pre-computer era, his works were and still are precise, well documented, supported by interviews and veteran's memories. Of course, there were no photographs available, but the text is precise and well researched...and my translation to portuguese of him being "matter-of-fact" sounded not too honest to the caliber of his research. Anyway, I rank him on one of the greatest RAF and Bomber Command Historians of the 80's-90's period.

Re: Martin Middlebrook, historian, Bomber Command, Great War
 

I think that Falke was just stating a fact, not a criticism: Middlebrook earned his living as a farmer, not (for example) in a university. My old boss in local government had also known him as a council member in Lincolnshire. Somehow he also found time to write excellent books that always told you what happened to individuals in a battle. I have several of them and he was a big inspiration when I embarked on writing. I recently read his book on the Schweifurt/Regensburg Mission again and found it just as impressive as I did when it first came out.

Re: Martin Middlebrook, historian, Bomber Command, Great War
 

A wonderful author, diligent and exact. He brought the human side to world war history.

I treasure his books.

Re: Martin Middlebrook, historian, Bomber Command, Great War
 

NICK, you got the point correctly...Not being a native English speaker, maybe my computer's translation did not sound so clean, hence my comments. Am really happy to know that he inspired you also, like me. Surely, he also was an inspiration to many others. Thank you for your nice comments and setting straight the meaning of the text.