At the outbreak of the Second World War, such was the build-up of men and materials in the RAF that Lincolnshire was already known as the Bomber County. Throughout the war it was to remain the very heartbeat of Britain's formidable air power. Its four main airfields - Hemswell, Scampton, Waddington and Cottesmore - were home to eight squadrons of Bomber Command under the legendary Arthur 'Bomber' Harris.

Author Rupert Matthews - himself the son of a Bomber Command sergeant who fought in the Second World War - describes many of the operations in detail here, telling the story of courageous individuals who, despite the odds, flew mission after mission into enemy airspace.

This is an important story. Night after night the skies of Lincolnshire reverberated with the sound of aircraft taking off and landing. For the aircrews the missions were very dangerous and physically exhausting. The chances of surviving a full tour of 30 operations were only 50/50, less in the first five sorties while aircrews gained valuable experience. Their targets were roads, railways, bridges, harbours, dams, factories and oil installations.

Among the accounts in this easy-to-read and meticulously researched book is that of the mighty Dambusters Raid of 1943.

The subject is brought to life with detailed accounts, alongside photos of the men themselves and their aircraft.

Also by Rupert Matthews, in this series, is Heroes of Bomber Command Norfolk.