Looking for recommendations on books on the air war against Reich oil production

[Richard T. Eger]

Dear All,

I recently purchased the following book sight unseen:

Target: Hitler's Oil: Allied Attacks on German Oil Supplies 1939-1945, by Ronald C. Cooke & Roy Conyers Nesbit, William Kimber & Co. Limited, London, copyright 1985.

As I generally do, I started with the bibliography and sources. There are listed 3 pages of books, including the United States Strategic Bombing Survey, which I consider primary material. Archival sources were all from the PRO and oddly seemed to be pretty much restricted to the 1940-1941 period. Perhaps the books cited were adequate for the later war years and the authors needed to seek out primary sources for the early war effort possibly inadequately covered by the noted books. This gave me a bit of a queasy feeling. Also, while USAAF missions are mentioned, the book appears to have a heavy RAF slant.

What I was looking for was a book that covered the backbone of the developing strategy, the various attacks, detailed information on the decline of oil production over time, and its impact on the Luftwaffe. The book lacks the detailed information, which certainly should have been available at the PRO and/or NARA. And, alas, the Me 262 is only mentioned once, which also leaves a yawning hole.

Admittedly, I've only glanced through the book. Chapter titles are good and the book seems to cover its material in a professional manner. It also has a decent index. Can anyone give me an assessment of the book?

Now, given what I'd hoped to find, can anyone recommend better works, hopefully ones citing greater use of archival material and truly covering Allied missions in a balanced manner, both USAAF and RAF, as well as the impact on the Reich/Luftwaffe?

Regards,
Richard