The winner of this month's prize for the longest list of authors. The reason is that each contributes a chapter, or chapters, on men from individual crews who toolk part in Bomber Command's offensive against German 'V-weapon' sites and whose aircraft - as per the sub-title -failed to return. These are by definition personal stories, but the underlying strategic matters are always given due consideration. The wider mission objective is outlined before the individual tales are told, these brought together using a combination of official documentation and personal correspondence. Each is in some way remarkable - to take one example, the first chapter deals with the loss of Lancaster LM138 from No 622 Squadron, shot down by a Luftwaffe Ju 88 on the night of 23-24 June 1944 following an attack against a V1 site at L'Hey in the Pas de Calais. The aircraft's seven-man crew, headed by WO Harold Cooke RNZAF was on its first mission. Five bailed out, but two stayed on board, Cooke being one and mid-upper gunner Sgt Fred Oliver the other. Oliver had been hit by the Junkers' fire and was found unresponsive in his turret by fellow crewmen before they jumped from the blazing Lancaster. Not knowing whether Oliver was still alive, Cooke attempted to make an emergency landing. His efforts were in vain.
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