History of Mediterraanean Air War

[NickM]

Originally Posted by Edward

The BIG NEWS! [via Bill Stone]

Volume 6 is scheduled for July 31st, 2025

A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume Six: The Strategic Bombing Campaign over South-East Europe 1 November 1943 to 30 June 1944
(Grub Street Publishing – 31 July 2025)
by Christopher Shores and Russell Guest with Giovanni Massimello, Andrew Thomas, Frank Olynyk and Winfried Bock
576 pages - hardback
£34.75

"Following the inter-Allied Casablanca Conference in January 1943 the outline for the Combined Bomber Offensive was agreed and resulted in early February with the 'Casablanca Directive'. This required the "progressive destruction and dislocation of the German military, industrial and economic systems and the undermining of the morale of the German people to a point where their capacity for armed resistance is fatally weakened". This directive was clarified in June when the Combined Chiefs of Staff issued the 'Pointblank Directive' that stated that the highest priority targets were the fighter aircraft factories to ensure that in the coming invasion of France the enemy would not have air superiority.

When these directives were issued it was envisaged that as well as attacks by RAF Bomber Command and the US Eighth Air Force based in England, the strategic bomber forces in Italy would begin operations once suitable bases were available. After the Allied landings in Italy and resulting collapse of the Italian fascist regime a network of bomber bases was hastily developed. Thus, on 1 November 1943 the US Fifteenth Air Force was formed to conduct the daylight bombing offensive against strategic targets in southern Germany and across South-Eastern Europe. Key among which were the Rumanian oilfields and traffic along the River Danube. This new formation was joined by the smaller, but highly effective 205 Group, RAF that was trained and equipped for night bombing so mirroring their equivalent British-based formations.

The damaging attacks on the Reich's oil supplies and the hugely effective Danube mining campaign conducted at night by 205 Group delivered huge strategic effect. The latter reduced vital oil and goods traffic into the Reich to a trickle but also dislocated the supply and logistics train into the southern part of the Eastern Front so giving manifest support to the Soviets.

In this volume the early months of this hugely significant air campaign are described in minute detail, including the actions of Germany's Axis allies such as Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria that were encountered for the first time by the Western Allies. Description of the strategic bomber campaign in the Mediterranean theatre will conclude in Volume Seven."

TWO more volumes then!? OK. God Bless Them for their hard work and legacy!

NM

[Russell]

Hi Guys

I am currently doing the USAAF name index for Vol 6. There are rather a lot of names, but we all have to do the necessary but mundane things. I try to keep it in perspective by remembering most of the bomber pilots only appear when they are shot down, so its a matter of press on and lest we forget. Russ

[Edward]

Originally Posted by Russell

. . . I try to keep it in perspective by remembering most of the bomber pilots only appear when they are shot down, so its a matter of press on and lest we forget. Russ

"Who will speak for these men?" is always in the back of my mind when writing.

[Siko54]

It’s just the most amazing series of books about the WW2 air war. I look at mine for reference all the time and the quality of research and detail just never ceases to amaze me; I’ve preordered the next installment although I am running out of room on my shelf where I keep them. Including the Malta and Balkans books I think the total is 8 now covering the med and that will make ten with the remaining two!

Thanks for all the work you have put into remembering these aviators and RIP Chris Shores, but great to see his work continues.

[Edward]

A page for Volume Six of A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945 is now up at the Grub Street Publishing website.

"This volume focuses of the early months of the hugely significant Pointblank Directive air campaign which saw Allied forces conduct daylight bombing offensives against strategic targets in southern Germany and south-eastern Europe. It also notes action against Axis allies such as Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria, that were being encountered for the first time by Western Allies. With minute and original detail and accompanied by hundreds of unpublished photographs, this is essential reading for scholars of the Second World War Allied air campaigns."

https://grubstreet.co.uk/product/a-h...-1945-vol-six/

[Edward]

21-22 June 2025
Book signing for Volume Six at Duxford Summer Air Show

Grub Street Publishing - fb
"We are excited to announce that we will be launching the sixth volume in our 'A History of the Mediterranean Air War' series at the Imperial War Museum Duxford Summer Air Show on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd June 2025.

We are equally thrilled that we will be joined by authors; Russell Guest (coming over from Australia), Giovanni Massimello (coming over from Italy) and Andrew Thomas.

You can come and meet our authors at the Aviation Bookshop marquee throughout the weekend and have the opportunity to purchase signed copies of A History of the Mediterranean Air War Volume Six."