Vangansbeke, Luc Les Ailes de l'Ombre

Les Opérations Clandestines de la RAF et de l'USAAF en Europe 1940-1945

A book about the special operations of the RAF and the USAAF in Europe from 1940 to 1945. British Moon Squadrons and American Carpetbaggers, secret agents and resistance fighters, it's all here! This work is a real treasure trove and is packed with information! Essential reading for anyone interested in aviation, covert warfare and secret operations! During the Second World War, the Resistance played a decisive role in liberating countries that had fallen under German rule. However, its effectiveness depended largely on the support of the Allied secret services, with whom it was in contact via radio and air links. Of all the operations carried out by the Allied Air Force, those in support of the resistance movements and networks were among the most difficult and risky. They resemble a real adventure novel, in which the deeds of thousands of fighters in hiding are intertwined with those of a handful of extraordinary pilots. This work presents these resistance networks, the various aircraft models and materials used, and the procedures employed in flight and on the ground. It describes as comprehensively as possible how these high-risk missions were prepared and carried out, both at Allied airfields and in occupied territory, giving as much space as possible to the accounts of the men and women involved and their state of mind at the time. Discover the role of the secret radio operators who played a deadly game with the enemy intelligence services, and the role of the resistance fighters who, after receiving a personal message from the BBC, waited night after night at the drop zones and secret landing sites, ready to receive agents, weapons and equipment that had been dropped or deposited. Follow the training of the pilots and crews of the Moon Squadrons, as well as the training of the secret agents who were responsible for the reception committees. Take part in some of the missions in which these aviators, having navigated with rudimentary means and only with the help of a few landmarks barely visible in the moonlight, found a marked area with a handful of torches.