Strike and Strike Again. 455 Squadron RAAF 1944-45.

Gordon, Ian.

ISBN 10: 1875593098 / ISBN 13: 9781875593095

Published by Banner Books, Belconnen, ACT, 1995

About this Item

x, 244pp, index, bibliography, notes, 6 appendices, num bw ills, maps, pictorial endpapers. Or blue cloth in pictorial jacket. Slightest of edge wear to jacket, extremely light foxing to half-title page and page edges. 455 Squadron RAAF was the only Australian strike squadron in RAF Coastal Command and flew the Bristol Beaufighter. They attacked German shipping off Holland and Denmark, and in the Norwegian Fjords diving into concentrated flak, among defending Focke-Wulfs over freezing waters. The 'Viking Boys' mastered some of the most demanding and perilous flying of the war. This history describes the men who flew, their groundcrews, and includes full appendices of personnel, aircraft on strength and operations as well as honours and awards. Size: 4to. Seller Inventory # 021211

Bibliographic Details

Title: Strike and Strike Again. 455 Squadron RAAF ...

Publisher: Banner Books, Belconnen, ACT

Publication Date: 1995

Binding: Hard Cover

Condition: Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Fine

Edition: First Edition.

About this title

Synopsis:

455 Squadron RAAF was the sole Australian strike squadron in RAF Coastal Command, and flew the formidable Bristol Beaufighter, armed with 20 mm cannon, bombs and rockets. A salvo of eight of these rockets could smash through a large merchant ship and send it to the bottom. As part of the devastating strike wings of Coastal Command, 455 Squadron attacked German shipping off Holland and Denmark, and in Norwegian fiords. Here some of the fiercest battles were fought, the strike squadrons diving into concentrated automatic flak, among defending Focke-Wulfs and over merciless freezing waters. The deep fiords, with precipitous rocky sides, were unforgiving; precise flying was necessary for survival. 455 Squadron, 'the Viking Boys', mastered some of the most demanding and perilous operational flying of the war. This history describes the men who flew, the ground crews who gave unstinting support, and includes full appendices of personnel, aircraft on strength and operations. 'The type of work carried out by this Squadron is akin to that of the Viking - short sharp swoops across the sea by a compact, well armed force... The spirit of the Australians is like that of the Vikings, adventurous and free.' 455 Squadron Commanding Officer, Jack Davenport