RaveThe Washington PostHastings examines the intersection between the legend of what is known as the Dambusters Raid and the somber historical realities that underpin it...To be sure, Hastings does justice to both. His account of the development of Upkeep, the cylindrical depth charge conceived to destroy targets such as heavily defended battleships and dams that no existing weapons could successfully engage, is a fascinating study in technological ingenuity and improvisation. Similarly, Hastings’s description of the terrifying realities of war in the skies over Nazi-occupied Europe stands as a testament to the quiet heroism and remarkable airmanship of ordinary RAF bomber crews ... a remarkable book, well in keeping with the impressive track record that Hastings long ago established as an astute chronicler of the human dimension of 20th-century conflict. Combining formidable narrative power with equally potent explanatory insight, it situates the Dambusters Raid in the broader strategic context of World War II as a whole, while serving as an illuminating entry point into the ethical debates concerning the Allies’ air war against Germany. Insofar as Hastings passes judgment, he directs it at senior commanders and decision-makers. For those who paid the price for their decisions and policies — RAF airmen and the civilian victims of the operation — he has only admiration and compassion.
