Beware! Balloons over Birmingham by Steve Richards explores the vital but hazardous role of RAF Balloon Command during the Second World War. Barrage balloons protected Birmingham from low-flying German aircraft, but their tethering cables also posed a deadly threat to friendly aircraft. The article recounts the tragic loss of an RAF Anson in 1940 and examines balloon design, operation and the challenges faced by their crews, including WAAF personnel. It also describes RAF Balloon Command’s wider responsibilities, including civil defence and Starfish decoy sites. With 168 balloons protecting Birmingham, these largely unsung crews played an important role in Britain’s wartime air defence.

Geoff Simpson’s article profiles three prolific artists who captured the essence of the Few during the Battle of Britain. Cuthbert Orde, leveraging his First World War experience, became renowned for his charcoal and chalk portraits of fighter pilots. He uniquely documented over 160 airmen, earning affectionate nicknames from his subjects. Eric Kennington, known for his evocative wartime depictions, portrayed the resilience and determination of soldiers throughout both world wars. His sombre and enduring works contrast with Orde’s portrayals. Lastly, Sir William Rothenstein, despite health challenges, created poignant drawings of RAF personnel, contributing his artistic eye to both world conflicts.

Steve Richards’ article explores the rationale behind the Blitz during WWII, detailing how the term likely arose during intense German raids over London in September 1940. The Luftwaffe’s strategy evolved from targeting airfields to focusing on urban centers, with the aim of demoralizing the British public and disrupting industrial production. Göring’s strategy, driven by inaccurate intelligence, mistakenly assumed RAF Fighter Command was near defeat. However, constant nighttime bombing failed to achieve strategic goals, as it overstretched the Luftwaffe and strengthened British resolve. While initially seen as potentially devastating, the Blitz did not collapse British war production or morale, revealing the limitations of strategic bombing.

In July 1941’s Operation Substance, Fleet Air Arm pilots Richard Cockburn and Alistair Kindersley bravely attacked overwhelming Italian air forces threatening a Malta convoy. Both were shot down after disrupting the attack. Cockburn survived and received the DSO, while Kindersley’s proposed posthumous Victoria Cross was controversially rejected, receiving only a Mention in Despatches.