In the Second World War RAF Bomber Command and its crews were unique in their composition, attracting men from the far corners of the Empire, and from various Nazi-occupied countries.

Despite the possible moral objections to bombing civilian targets, there is no doubting the bravery of the RAF's bomber crewmen, who flew dangerous missions by night in freezing temperatures and were preyed upon by German flak and night fighter aircraft. Jonathan Falconer describes what it was like for a crew on a typical night raid over Germany, outlining the different sorts of specialist flying kit available, and the varied arsenal of bombs, defensive armament and equipment that were carried.

He also explains how flying in a particular type of aircraft - Stirling, Halifax, Lancaster or Mosquito - could affect one's chances of survival, and what might happen to an airman if his nerve cracked under the pressure.