Bomber Offensive by Arthur 'Bomber' Harris first edition 1947 with ALS
London: Collins (1947)
8vo., in the original dust jacket, unclipped showing 21s. net the inside flap; with a map of Germany as endpapers repeated at the back, showing bomber command's principal targets pp. 288; light blue boards with gilt lettering to the spine; Jacket with a toned spine, chip to the top and general wear to both ends, back panel has spotting marks and has browned; Endpapers has foxing marks. on the copyright page there is a small square mark were presumably the letter was originally attached to; otherwise a very good copy [with] an A6 letter on official military headed paper with an embossed emblem t the top in the centre; a corresponding mark to the top left where it most likely was glued into the book, now released and sits loose in its own protective sleeve; letter also in very good condition.
As commander in Chief of Bomber Command, Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris was responsible during WWII for directing the policy of a bombing offensive throughout Germany. The biography from him describes his conversations with Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Smuts during critical moments during the war. He describes in detail operations across the entirety of the war, and then he looks to the future and that of the atomic bomb.
Accompanying the book is a scarce letter signed by Bomber Harris dated 27 July 1940 only a few months before he took charge of bomber command. He, at this stage was commander of 6th Group and was air vice marshal reporting to air marshal Newall. He writes this letter to his bosses wife, Lady Newall. In the letter he says:
"My Dear Lady Newall, Thank you very much for your kind letter of congratulations on my award - for which of course C.A.S to thank. I hasten to reply on this official - most improper - paper, but your letter was so long in the post that i feared you might think it rude of me not acknowledging your note sooner.
It is indeed a long way back to Egypt! However these are trying times, and we are certainly stalling Adolf and his minions with our bombers and fighters. My regards to you all yours v surely Arthur T Harris."
Harris was awarded the CBE earlier in 1940, in July and it is this award that he refers to. The Italian forces pushed allies out of Egypt earlier in 1940, but the allies would reverse this under operation compass later in the year and this is what he was referring to about that country. But it is Harris's sentiments about Hitler and his minions that really makes this a superb letter, considering the date and what the RAF were occupied with at that time, this being the Battle of Britain.