Cinderella Boys

Here we go with another ‘we won the battle of the Atlantic’ story that focuses on one service, when in reality it was a combination of forces and technologies. This time round it’s Coastal Command that gets the treatment. It uses plenty of quotes from pilots, most of which centre around how either dull patrols were or how bad the weather was. The ones highlighting actions against U-Boats are, of course, much more entertaining. What the book really does illustrate though is the conflict between Harris and Bomber Command and the demands of Coastal Command for longer range bombers. This political aspect, with Churchill in the middle, puts it all into context. It’s a readable account, though a little flat.

• John Murray
• ISBN 978-1-5293-1936-1
• 332 pages. Hardback. £25

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