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Big Week

The Biggest Air Battle of World War Two

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Big Week

By: James Holland
Narrated by: Charles Armstrong
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About this listen

During the third week of February 1944, the combined Allied air forces launched their first-ever round-the-clock bomber offensive against Germany.

The aim was to smash the main factories and production centres of the Luftwaffe and draw the German fighter force up into the air and into battle. Officially called Operation ARGUMENT, this monumental air assault very quickly became known simply as Big Week.

Following the fortunes of pilots, aircrew and civilians from both sides, Big Week is a blistering narrative of one of the most critical periods of the entire war, one that culminated in the largest air battle ever witnessed.

©2018 James Holland (P)2019 Soundings Military War Air Force US Air Force Aviation
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it's a good story, but more of a story around Big Week, than of Big Week. stories of individual participants were excellent, but would have liked more analysis of the bigger picture, and also of the justifications, planning and execution of Big Week itself.
Often individual stories were broken apart and mixed together to try and create an effect of something like a movie experience, but sometimes overdone, for heightened narrative tension maybe?
Maybe I've been reading too much Max Hastings recently but wanted more 'ah-ha' revelatory moments with analysis.

Good but a bit too little-pixture focused

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Great to listen to this historical event. Incredible stories of such young people on both sides.

Tactical relevance and the people

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Pity the narrator could not use the term that was abbreviated such as "Bomb Group" for BG and "miles per hour" for mph.
Okay to read BG or mph but a bit hard to listen to it time after time. On the other hand he usually said Fighter Group instead of the abbreviation FG. Maybe he was not advised what the abbreviations stood for. Or should that be acronyms ????

But overall an excellent retelling of a little known aspect of the war in Europe -- except to followers of the trials and tribulations of the USAAF.

Excellent biographies of some of the leading actors on all sides - British, German and American..

Interesting listen but spoiled

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I always enjoy works by James Holland. There is a sense of urgency in his prose and his audio books are well narrated. Recommended.

Excellent.

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James Holland goes into great detail of the WWII air war of 1943-44. The accounts and experiences of the pilots from both allied and axis fighters and bombers always got the heart racing. I appreciated how there were accounts from both sides, and the information about the strain that both sides were under during this crucial part of the war.
Great book and highly recommend.

A perfect war account

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A pretty comprehensive account of this part of the war, and a good book, but in telling both the US and Commonwealth sides, it jumped around a bit. Almost needed a US and British reader for clarity. A it was, it was let down by the narrator, who clearly didn't know the subject; the mispronounced names were especially galling; aces and places. I expect better.

Good book let down by a few minor issues.

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I’m 4 hours from the end and I haven’t got to the Big Week yet. If you aren’t familiar with the strategic bombing war you’ll find this a gold mine, otherwise it covers a lot of pre ground years ahead of the main topic. And had a repetitive theme “Bob learned to fly as a boy u. Oklahoma….” Having read Mr Holland’s work on Burma, war in the west and Normandy this one was a bit of a let down.

Not the best I’ve read.

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Big Week would of been an interesting topic. Day 1-7 etc how many planes were in action, their targets, numbers involved etc. This is rubbish. Just tells little stories of people who were around then? If someone asked you about Big Week after listening to this you wouldn't have an answer!

Big flop

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