Royal Air Force Bomber Units July 1942-45

When Air Marshal A. T. Harris took over the reins at Bomber Command Headquarters in February 1942, he inherited a force of some 400 aircraft—100 fewer than had been available to his predecessor the previous December, when he had been ordered to limit operations during the winter months. The first task facing the new Commander in Chief was to silence the growing criticism which threatened the very existence of his force in a strategic bombing role. Harris, who had been a firm advocate of precision bombing, soon appreciated that this was beyond the capability of the crews and aircraft then available to him, and quickly became a champion of area bombing. This does not mean that he was in any way a 'yes man' or armchair leader ready to abandon his own theories in favour of those of his seniors. The truth was, in fact, quite the reverse, for he was a capable leader who, although ready to defend and stick resolutely to his own views through thick and thin, could appreciate others' opinions and adopt them if, in his opinion, they merited it. Having decided on a course of action, Harris would pursue it to its fulfilment, which on occasions made him unpopular with both his seniors and members of the government.