Operations Manuals
THE IMPRESSIVE series of World War Two ‘manuals’ from Haynes continues in fine form with this latest work from wellknown military history specialist Chris McNab. The Blitz Operations Manual takes an in-depth look at the devastating raids from a UK ground perspective, rather than examining the aircraft used by both sides in the dark days of 1940-1941. It does include a brief overview of the RAF nightfighters sent to intercept the bombers, but this mostly looks at the technical aspects of the equipment used, such as interception radar.
The book has six themed chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of the Blitz. I found the ‘Evacuation and Shelter’ section particularly interesting, as it contains detailed plans from the early war period on how build air raid shelters, where to locate them and what materials to use to construct them. It also includes drawings that show how to make protective screens and barricades for windows.
