Bomber Onslaught

Don’t judge a book by its cover, goes the old saying. Airborne in 1943 is a prime example, for while the narrative is excellent, the cover art and title are terribly misleading.

British historian Kevin Wilson has a deserved reputation for quality and accuracy, including well-regarded volumes on the Royal Air Force and U.S. Eighth Air Force. But the jacket of his latest offering suggests he’s written a joint assessment of the Anglo-American air campaign out of Britain in 1943, which it’s not. The illustration depicts a formation of Eighth Air Force B-17s, while the subtitle reinforces the notion it addresses RAF Bomber Command’s operations in concert with the “Mighty Eighth.” In fact, Airborne in 1943 provides a detailed study of Bomber Command’s activities from January 1 through December 31 of that year.

Historians often disagree about which was the most significant year of World War II, but a rough consensus has emerged that 1943