His life and times the biography of marshal of the royal air. Richard harris was an irishborn international actor. The firebombing of dresden and other german cities, killing untold civilians. The winner is the one that clobbers hardest, with the maximum effort, in the minimum time. Arthur harris, the son of george steele travers harris and his wife, caroline harris, was born in cheltenham, on th april, 1892. The model takes into account factors including the age of a rating, whether the ratings are from. New faces of evil book ranks bomber harris with hitler and. The biography of marshal of the royal air force sir arthur harris, wartime chief of bomber command reprint by henry probert isbn. Mar 01, 2005 sir arthur harris bomber harris remains the target of criticism and vilification by many, while others believe the contribution he and his men made to victory is grossly undervalued. His life and times the biography of marshal of the royal air force sir arthur harris, the wartime chief of probert, henry on. Douglas bader was born in london, england on february 21, 1910.
Harris was commander of raf bomber command during world war ii. His authorized biography by dudley saward, written in the 1970s but not published until harris. With john thaw, lindsay duncan, jeanpierre delage, jo doumerg. Top 11 quotes by sir arthur harris, 1st baronet az quotes.
Henry proberts critical but sympathetic new account draws on recent research and, for this first time, all of this is the definitive biography of one of the most controversial. Jun 24, 2017 the former air ministry first rented the property in 1940, and during the second world war it was the graceandfavour home of royal air force marshal arthur harris, commonly known as bomber. The story of a dog named ralf enemy coast ahead bomber offensive the faunal remains from arroyo hondo pueblo, new mexico. Death of a bomber pilot sadly his wife norma recently telephoned me to say that her husband leslie weaver, a lancaster pilot and one of sir arthur harris s forgotten bomber boys, had died in hospital last friday 17th november allegedly suffering from. Harris felt that a concerted air attack against the german capital would break the morale of its citizens and cause germany to capitulate. First thousand bomber raid was in may 1942, three months after arthur bomber harris was made commanderinchief memorial unveiled to bomber command in londons green park in 2012 pictured.
As commanderinchief bomber command, sir arthur harris was responsible for directing the policy of a bomber offensive, and his views on the controversial questions whether the results of this were worth the expenditure of lives and materials of whether area bombing was morally justifiable will be read with universal interst. Harris went to boarding school in england and then settled in rhodesia in southern africa. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. His life and times the biography of marshal of the royal air force sir arthur harris,the wartime chief of hardcover january 31, 2006 by henry probert author visit amazons henry probert page. The biography of marshal of the royal air force sir arthur harris, the wartime chief of bomber command. He led the men of bomber command in the face of appalling casualties, had fierce disagreements with higher authority and enjoyed a complicated relationship with winston. However, a recent publication has presented arguments that dresden was indeed a legitimate target for the allies and.
Sir arthur bomber harris interview uncovered bbc news. As the picture shows, it is the typical statue of some worthy person which dots every public space in europe, nothing terribly exciting artistically. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases. The ultimate aim of an attack on a town area, sir arthur harris wrote in one of his despatches, is to break the morale of the population which occupies it. Harris advocates the concentration of bombing attacks on major german cities, starting with berlin war is a battle between heavyweights. Based on the 1989 bestselling memoir of the same name by peter mayle about his first year in provence, and the local events and customs. The controversial mission was led by sir arthur bomber harris, the commanderinchief of britains bomber command, the branch of the royal air force raf that controlled britains bomber forces. Ironically, air marshal sir arthur bomber harris gained much of the credit, though he opposed chastise as a distraction from his cityburning blitz. Feb, 1995 drama about sir arthur bomber harris, wartime leader of bomber command from february 1942 to may 1945. The bomber offensive in harris own words, and you can almost hear him talking through the narrative.
Arthur bomber harris, 10 people who did terrible things for. Despite protests from germany as well as some in britain, the bomber harris trust an raf veterans organisation formed to defend the good name of their commander erected a statue of him outside the raf church of st. Bomber harris 18th century home for sale 75 million daily. Vandals who attacked raf memorial know nothing of bomber. He also made what the author describes as the operations biggest mistake the failure to launch a conventional attack on the nazis huge postraid repair operation, which could have.
Bomber command lost about 55,000 men in sir arthurs night bombing attacks, slightly more than the. Sir arthur travers harris, 1st baronet british military. Death and burial ground of harris, arthur, sir bomber harris. Sir arthur travers harris, 1st baronet, byname bomber harris, born april, 1892, cheltenham, gloucestershire, englanddied april 5, 1984, goringonthames, oxfordshire, british air officer who initiated and directed the saturation bombing that the royal air force inflicted on germany during world war ii harris was reared in rhodesia now zimbabwe and educated in. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read bomber offensive. The son of civil engineer frederick bader and his wife jessie, douglas spent his first two years with relatives on the isle of man as his father had to return to work in india. The story of marshal of the royal air force sir arthur harris. This book collects together the reports written by harris, that show how he set about building bomber command and using it as a strategic weapon. Arthur harris air marshall sir arthur bomber harris, the commander in chief of bomber command wanted to end the war as quickly. It focuses largely on his war duties but doesnt ignore his personal life. Marshal of the royal air force sir arthur travers harris, 1st baronet, gcb, obe, afc april 1892 5 april 1984, commonly known as bomber harris by the press, and often within the raf as butcher harris, was air officer commandinginchief aocinc of raf bomber command from early 1943 holding the rank of air chief marshal during the latter half of world war ii.
Arthur harris played crucial role in defeating hitlers third reich. Sir arthur harris remains the target of criticism and vilification by many, while others believe the contribution he and his. The gripping story of the rafs bloodiest raid on hitlers germany. Throughout the war, harris would remain hostile to the concept of panacea targets, specific elements. For a number of years, the raid on dresden was condemned as an unnecessary act. He led the men of bomber command in the face of appalling casualties, had fierce disagreements with higher authority and enjoyed a complicated relationship. Much of bomber commands effort was what was defined as area bombing, in which whole cities or districts were targeted. Despatch on war operations 23rd february 1942 to 8th may. But the book does reveal that mrs harris called her husband bud. Sir arthur travers harris, marshal of the royal air force, was the head of raf bomber. Faces of evil book includes lord kitchener, whose face was used on first world war recruiting posters, and sir arthur bomber harris, the architect of. Bomber harris definition of bomber harris by the free.
Harris and his wife were in washington when a shocked america received. During the war, he built bomber command into a highly effective force and aided in devising. Journalist and author leo mckinstry, in his 2009 book on the lancaster, quotes another veteran as exploding the myth that harris was ever called butcher in addition to ex61 sqn crewman hugh spencer earlier in this thread. This is the first time that sir arthur bomber harris s own papers covering his three and a half years at bomber command have been published and made available. Bomber harris british marshal of the royal air force. In retrospect, it is clear that arthur harriss bomber command was. When he took over bomber command it possessed only sixtynine heavy bombers and his force was incapable of undertaking any major operations, yet by may 1943 harris was able to mount the first of many 1,000 bomber raids. Harris and his wife and daughter therese, are buried on the cemetery of goring on thames, oxfordshire. More than just the singleminded demon some people view him as.
Harriss continued preference for area bombing over precision targeting remains controversial. His life and times the biography of marshal of the. From 1939 sir arthur harris was confident in bomber commander as a poptentially decisive weapon, and he now recounts the very complete story of how, from a nucleus of untrained men and obsolete machines, was built up the aweinspiring force which could carry out the bomber. Sir arthur harris bomber harris remains the target of criticism and vilification by many, while others believe the contribution he and his men made to victory is grossly undervalued. During the war he was regarded as one of the greatest allied commanders, who had taken over the command at a critical point and moved it into higher gear. Arthur harris died of natural causes in 1984, he and his wife are buried in this grave.
A statue whose unveiling in 1992 had particular resonance for me was that of sir arthur bomber harris, commanderinchief during the second world war of britains bomber command. During that time, the raf dropped almost a million tons of bombs. He led bomber command from february 1942 until the end of the war against germany. Needless to say, i never heard back from mr marr, but wish him well with. The authorized biography new edition by saward, dudley isbn. Sir arthur harris despatches on war operations 19421945 grehan, john, mace, martin the bombing campaign conducted against germany and germanoccupied europe in the second world war was, and remains, one of the most controversial operations of the entire war. Arthur harris name is indelibly associated with the bomber war. Read book online now book 1853674737pdf download bomber harris. Sir arthur harris, 1st baronet military wiki fandom. He was educated at gore court in sittingbourne and allhallows in honiton, while his parents were in india. Arthur travers harris was born on april 1892 in cheltenham. Sir arthur bomber harris was head of raf bomber command during war world 2. Robert dennis harris born 7 march 1957 is an english novelist. A fighter pilot in world war i, harris was charged with implementing the british policy of area bombing german cities in the later conflict.
A study in shortterm subsistence change arroyo hondo archaeological series. In his bbc tv series the making of modern britain, andrew marr last night referred to acm sir arthur bomber harris with the alternative moniker butcher. This is the story of the air raid intended to be the climax of sir arthur bomber harris s relentless campaign to defeat nazi germany. Sir arthur harris ran bomber command in 1942 and used it for allied strategy. His father was an engineer and architect in the indian civil service. Known as bert to his friends, bomber harris to the press during the war, and butch short for butcher to his aircrews, harris took a demoralized and dispirited raf bomber command in 1942 and built it up into a most formidable force that played a vital role in the defeat of nazi germany. Sir arthur harris remains the target of criticism and vilification by many, while others believe the contribution he and his men made to victory is grossly undervalued. Jack le vien, the american documentary producer who has died aged 81, sent shivers of apprehension through british broadcasting with his 1961 television coproduction with the bbc, the valiant. Widower whose late wife wrote the book that meghan. Harris went to boarding school in england and then settled in.
He is a former journalist and bbc television reporter. Ending the war with germany as quickly as possible, saving allied lives in the process, ending the holocaust and toppling hitler. Bomber command, 1942 1945 over the allied bomber offensive during the second world war. Lawren harris was an accomplished canadian painter of the first half of the 20th century. Id always thought the nickname coined for him by his men in bomber command was actually butch which, in the 1940s, didnt have the connotations it has today, but simply meant vigorous or forceful. Quite simply, bomber command was not a force dedicated to the assault of germanys economic system. Thomas harris is an american author of crime novels, notably t he silence of the lambs. His life and times 1st edition by henry probert isbn. Whether the allied bombing offensive which played a major part in the defeat of germany was morally justified is a question which has bothered the conscience of many over the past halfcentury. Harris, arthur nicknamed bomber harris, 18921984 bibliography. Under his command, many german cities were bombed to break the morale of the german factory workers. During the war, he built bomber command into a highly effective force and aided. May 17, 2008 at the top of this list is bomber harris. Arthur harris died at the very old age of 91, on 05041984, in the place called goring.
Rare bomber harris film uncovered jump to media player sir arthur bomber harris, who directed the rafs bombing missions which flattened german cities, remains one of the most controversial. Sir arthur travers harris, marshal of the royal air force, was the head of raf bomber command in the period 1942 through 1945. Bomber command in 1942 had on its books only 51 squadrons of about 20. C n trueman air marshal arthur harris bomber harris writing in his memoirs in 1947.
Dec 23, 2006 arthur harris air marshall sir arthur bomber harris, the commander in chief of bomber command wanted to end the war as quickly as possible. Arthur harris mp died 1632, member of parliament for maldon and essex, and high sheriff of essex for 162526 sir arthur harris, 1st baronet, of stowford 16501686, english politician sir arthur harris, 1st baronet 18921984, head of raf bomber command during world war ii. At harriss own request, the first booklength biographies appeared only after his death. Bomber harris and his royal air force bomber command.
Marshal of the royal air force sir arthur travers harris, 1st baronet april 1892 5 april 1984 was a british air marshal during world war ii. Former marshal of the royal air force, sir arthur bomber harris, gave the green light for the 1945 bombing which reduced the city in saxony, germany, to rubble. Although he began his career in nonfiction, his fame rests upon his works of historical fiction. Bomber offensive by arthur harris 1990, hardcover for. Harris is forever linked with images of the destruction of german cultural landmarks. Apr 09, 2020 sir arthur travers harris, 1st baronet, byname bomber harris, born april, 1892, cheltenham, gloucestershire, englanddied april 5, 1984, goringonthames, oxfordshire, british air officer who initiated and directed the saturation bombing that the royal air force inflicted on germany during world war ii. Share sir arthur harris, 1st baronet quotations about war and victory. Marshal of the raf sir arthur harris is the memoir of sir arthur harris, who served as air officer commandinginchief of raf bomber command from 22 february 1942 to the wars end in 1945. Arthur harris books list of books by author arthur harris. Marshal of the royal air force sir arthur travers harris was air officer commandinginchief of the royal air forces bomber command for much of world war ii. Chief of the british royal air force raf bomber command from 1942 to 1945 born at cheltenham in gloucestershire, the son of an engineerarchitect in the indian civil service, arthur harris was educated at gore court, sittingbourne, and allhallows, honiton.
Full of fascinating detail of the bombing campaign and of his personal life. At the age of seventeen, against the wishes of his father. Marshal of the royal air force sir arthur travers harris, 1st baronet, gcb, obe, afc april 1892 5 april 1984, commonly known as bomber harris by the press and often within the raf as butcher harris, was air officer commandinginchief aocinc raf bomber command during the height of the angloamerican strategic bombing campaign against nazi germany in the second world war. Marshal of the royal air force sir arthur travers harris, 1st baronet, gcb, obe, afc april. Arthur harris, the son of george steele travers harris and his wife, caroline. In february 1942 arthur harris was given the job of taking the war to the enemy at a time when britain was still on the defensive.
This is a excellent book which has been written by sir arthur bomber harris a. The great air chief marshal sir arthur bomber harris puts forth his defence of the huge angloamerican bomber offensives of the second world war. Arthur harris and the allied bomber offensive 19391945. Arthur bomber harris evoked strong emotions in those who knew him, created highly divergent opinions about the efficacy and properness of his allconsuming bomber offensive, and further stirred the waters with a pungent, opinionated book of memoirs. Bomber harris synonyms, bomber harris pronunciation, bomber harris translation, english dictionary definition of bomber harris. More dry humour than youd imagine, and lots of perceptive comments about the world at the time. But it was one raid in particular on dresden on february, 1945, where between 25,000 and 40,000 germans lost their lives that has concentrated criticism on bomber harris. Author says, wikipedia reports that arthur harris died on 5 april 1984, just eight days before his 92nd birthday. The burly, mustached, reddishhaired chief of raf bomber command from february 1942 to the wars end had, indeed, played a crucial role in the defeat of adolf hitlers third reich.
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