The glow of the sun was frightening and it chased them home . . .

Bill Brill began losing height to escape the sky growing lighter above and behind him. But the sun was faster than the Wellington. By the time he crossed the west coast of Denmark he was down to 400 feet. The sun chased him across the North Sea and the East Riding of Yorkshire to Breighton. Ten per cent of the bombers were lost on the Warnemunde raid.

The Australians who served in Bomber Command were highly trained members of an elite corps. They were thrown into a war of repeated bombing raids in which they had to perform complex tasks under extreme pressure and danger. They flew mission after mission with full knowledge that the odds of survival were against them – 4000 Australians died in Bomber Command – but they pressed on regardless.

Many of the Australian airmen who were killed in the air over Dusseldorf or Essen are now unremembered in their homeland, but their lonely bravery contributed to the defeat of the Nazi regime. Hank Nelson vividly brings to life through his lively writing and his extensive use of personal reminiscences the extraordinary experiences of the Australians who served with the British bomber squadrons. He depicts their fears, despair and courage in the face of the most terrible experiences. pp. x, 319. #130216