Far East RAF Liberators: Attacking the Japanese: Roy Andrews and 215 Squadron

Between 11 October 1944 and 8 April 1945, wireless operator/air gunner Roy Andrews flew thirty-five missions with the RAF’s 215 Squadron, based in Bengal, India. His ops comprised one long exercise, one Air-Sea Rescue flight, and either bombing and strafing, or just bombing, attacks against targets in Burma and Thailand, including three sojourns along the notorious Thailand-Burma ‘Death’ Railway. Roy began as his crew's second W/Op/AG, mostly manning a .50-calibre beam gun. By January 1945 he became the crew’s primary W/Op/AG and flew his final twenty-five missions in this role. In addition to his operational duties, Roy managed various squadron tasks, such as censoring mail and preparing jungle kits. This book, based on Roy’s personal experiences, offers insights into his upbringing in Hong Kong, England and Australia, his military training, and his time in India during the war. The detailed accounts of each of his thirty-five operations and his two longest non-operational flights are complemented by an analysis of every other 215 Squadron B-24 Liberator op. Historian Matt Poole contributes additional squadron information, including aerial bomb-strike photos and images never before published. This comprehensive work highlights a rarely covered chapter of World War II RAF operations in the Far East. Between 11 October 1944 and 8 April 1945, wireless operator/air gunner Roy Andrews flew thirty-five missions with the RAF’s 215 Squadron, based in Bengal, India. His missions, some over fourteen hours long, included bombing, strafing, and Air-Sea Rescue operations against Japanese targets in Burma and Thailand, as well as three trips to the Thailand-Burma ‘Death’ Railway.Roy began as the squadron''s second wireless operator, manning a .50-calibre beam gun. By January 1945, he became the primary wireless operator and completed the majority of his missions in this role. In addition to his operational duties, Roy managed various squadron tasks, such as censoring mail and preparing jungle kits.This book, based on Roy’s personal experiences, offers insights into his upbringing in Hong Kong and Australia, his military training, and his time in India during the war. The detailed accounts of each of his thirty-five operations, as well as his two longest non-operational flights, are complemented by an analysis of 215 Squadron’s B-24 Liberator activities. Historian Matt Poole contributes additional information on the squadron, including aerial bomb-strike photos and images never before published. This comprehensive work highlights a rarely covered chapter of RAF operations in the Far East during World War II.

• | Author: Matt Poole
• | Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
• | Publication Date: Jul 11, 2025
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Hardback
• | ISBN-13: 9781036131685
• | ISBN-10: 1036131688