Stephen Moore
@smoorebofb1940.bsky.social
ECR 20th century conflict historian. SWW, ADGB (especially night defence) & strategic bombing in Europe. Long-suffering NUFC Supporter. BSB incident officer.
I can finally announce that my book on the ignored part of the Luftwaffe bombing war against the UK 1941-1943 will be published by UPK in December.
November 18, 2025 at 10:08 AM
I can finally announce that my book on the ignored part of the Luftwaffe bombing war against the UK 1941-1943 will be published by UPK in December.
Finally made it here @danellin.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Finally made it here @danellin.bsky.social
Serious problem with smoking haggis at the moment - photo sent by my friend who lives in the Highlands. Shame the sign shows a lowland haggis.
November 4, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Serious problem with smoking haggis at the moment - photo sent by my friend who lives in the Highlands. Shame the sign shows a lowland haggis.
The undercarriage held, and my pilot visibly relaxed for 2 seconds, until he realised that the whole of Biggin Hill fire brigade were following us down the runway. They then proceeded to follow us all the way back to the Fly A Spitfire hanger, and pointed the foam cannon at the aircraft.
October 10, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The undercarriage held, and my pilot visibly relaxed for 2 seconds, until he realised that the whole of Biggin Hill fire brigade were following us down the runway. They then proceeded to follow us all the way back to the Fly A Spitfire hanger, and pointed the foam cannon at the aircraft.
I recognise that aircraft - my mate was flying in it while I was in MT818 in this photograph. Ironically, I was the one who thought I would involved be in an emergency landing that day...
October 10, 2025 at 7:20 AM
I recognise that aircraft - my mate was flying in it while I was in MT818 in this photograph. Ironically, I was the one who thought I would involved be in an emergency landing that day...
My copy arrived as well - quite concerned that Seb Cox's chapter follows mine and is on the same subject...
October 2, 2025 at 8:17 AM
My copy arrived as well - quite concerned that Seb Cox's chapter follows mine and is on the same subject...
Your book out in the wild at Waterstones Newcastle! @spitfirefilly.bsky.social
June 14, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Your book out in the wild at Waterstones Newcastle! @spitfirefilly.bsky.social
Glad to know you avoided my pain. My latest purchase is on the way...
March 27, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Glad to know you avoided my pain. My latest purchase is on the way...
Clausewitz proposed 2 types of war: 'limited' or 'absolute' (total) war. He argues that it takes 2 to fight a limited war, & if one side is prepared to commit to total war, the other has no choice but to do the same. A logical escalation into total war become inevitable.
February 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Clausewitz proposed 2 types of war: 'limited' or 'absolute' (total) war. He argues that it takes 2 to fight a limited war, & if one side is prepared to commit to total war, the other has no choice but to do the same. A logical escalation into total war become inevitable.
With fires everywhere, flames spread through the cellars of buildings of the Altstadt leading to the appalling death toll. It is often forgotten that the USAAF bombed Dresden on 14 February, again targeting the centre of the city due to poor weather conditions.
February 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
With fires everywhere, flames spread through the cellars of buildings of the Altstadt leading to the appalling death toll. It is often forgotten that the USAAF bombed Dresden on 14 February, again targeting the centre of the city due to poor weather conditions.
A firestorm is created as the rising heat from the original fire draws in surrounding air. The probability of this increases if a low-level jetstream is present near the centre of the fire. As rising air begins to cascade downwards, strong gusting winds develop around the fire.
February 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
A firestorm is created as the rising heat from the original fire draws in surrounding air. The probability of this increases if a low-level jetstream is present near the centre of the fire. As rising air begins to cascade downwards, strong gusting winds develop around the fire.
Dresden was the 7th largest city in Germany, the capital of the state of Saxony, & the largest remaining unbombed built-up area. Described as 'one of the foremost industrial areas of the Reich', a 1944 report listed 127 factories supplying the war effort.
February 17, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Dresden was the 7th largest city in Germany, the capital of the state of Saxony, & the largest remaining unbombed built-up area. Described as 'one of the foremost industrial areas of the Reich', a 1944 report listed 127 factories supplying the war effort.
Harris strongly disagreed with the use of his aircraft against transportation targets, arguing that his crews were not trained for such attacks & the aircraft were unsuitable. Once directly ordered to attack, he was surprised at the accuracy & destruction his force achieved.
February 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Harris strongly disagreed with the use of his aircraft against transportation targets, arguing that his crews were not trained for such attacks & the aircraft were unsuitable. Once directly ordered to attack, he was surprised at the accuracy & destruction his force achieved.
For most of 1944 the strategic bombers of the RAF & USAAF had been diverted from attacks against German cities and placed under the direct control of Eisenhower to assist with Normandy invasion. In practice, the operational orders for bombing attacks originated from ACM Tedder.
February 17, 2025 at 2:10 PM
For most of 1944 the strategic bombers of the RAF & USAAF had been diverted from attacks against German cities and placed under the direct control of Eisenhower to assist with Normandy invasion. In practice, the operational orders for bombing attacks originated from ACM Tedder.
Whilst discussing the implementation of this Operation 'Thunderclap', ACM Sir Arthur Harris proposed that Chemnitz, Leipzig & Dresden be added as targets, because they would share in the surge of refugees from the east & were all important communication centres.
February 17, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Whilst discussing the implementation of this Operation 'Thunderclap', ACM Sir Arthur Harris proposed that Chemnitz, Leipzig & Dresden be added as targets, because they would share in the surge of refugees from the east & were all important communication centres.
On 12 January, the British War Cabinet considered the possibility that war in Europe could continue until 31 December 1945. British planners began to assess the effect of a concentrated blow at Berlin to coincide with a renewed Soviet offensive in the East.
February 17, 2025 at 2:06 PM
On 12 January, the British War Cabinet considered the possibility that war in Europe could continue until 31 December 1945. British planners began to assess the effect of a concentrated blow at Berlin to coincide with a renewed Soviet offensive in the East.
Sorry, table went wrong - second attempt
November 20, 2024 at 11:27 AM
Sorry, table went wrong - second attempt
Yes, I read all of those, and several 100 more while doing my PhD on this - Collier and the Dowding Despatch are flawed as all of the evidence wasn't available when they were written. Owen Thetford commented that significant quantities of aircraft were only shot down after GCI became available
November 20, 2024 at 11:19 AM
Yes, I read all of those, and several 100 more while doing my PhD on this - Collier and the Dowding Despatch are flawed as all of the evidence wasn't available when they were written. Owen Thetford commented that significant quantities of aircraft were only shot down after GCI became available
Reading Mark Stille's 'Midway' & am struck by his argument that the shortcomings which doomed the Kido Butai at Midway were already evident during the IJN raid in the Indian Ocean. Only Somerville's decision to turn way rather than launch a night carrier torpedo attack prevented an earlier disaster.
October 2, 2024 at 11:32 AM
Reading Mark Stille's 'Midway' & am struck by his argument that the shortcomings which doomed the Kido Butai at Midway were already evident during the IJN raid in the Indian Ocean. Only Somerville's decision to turn way rather than launch a night carrier torpedo attack prevented an earlier disaster.
Strong current on the Tyne - 5 knots, both in and out, according to someone I used to work with who played with yachts at weekends. Not particularly generous spans width wide either, but the Tyne was a very busy river in those days and I suspect the pilots knew their stuff.
August 30, 2024 at 2:35 PM
Strong current on the Tyne - 5 knots, both in and out, according to someone I used to work with who played with yachts at weekends. Not particularly generous spans width wide either, but the Tyne was a very busy river in those days and I suspect the pilots knew their stuff.
Station name also in Latin.
August 19, 2024 at 9:37 AM
Station name also in Latin.
Seems like the age of dazzle isn't quite dead - or is that vomit all over the fuselage?
June 18, 2024 at 7:46 AM
Seems like the age of dazzle isn't quite dead - or is that vomit all over the fuselage?
OTD in 1953, Les Graham was killed at Bray Hill during the Isle of Man TT Races. Les was the inaugural Motorcycle World Champion (now MotoGP) when it started in 1949. He was also awarded the DFC for 'general valour' while serving as a Lancaster pilot in Bomber Command during the Second World War.
June 12, 2024 at 7:27 AM
OTD in 1953, Les Graham was killed at Bray Hill during the Isle of Man TT Races. Les was the inaugural Motorcycle World Champion (now MotoGP) when it started in 1949. He was also awarded the DFC for 'general valour' while serving as a Lancaster pilot in Bomber Command during the Second World War.