Buckley, John2019-07-052019-07-052018-03-01Buckley, J. (2018) Coastal Command and the Second World War, Air Power Review, 21(Spring 2018)(1), pp. 178-201.1463-6298http://hdl.handle.net/2436/622522From 1939 to 1945 RAF Coastal Command played a crucial role in maintaining Britain’s maritime communications, thus securing the United Kingdom’s ability to wage war against the Axis powers in Europe. Its primary role was in confronting the German U-boat menace, particularly in the 1940-41 period when Britain came closest to losing the Battle of the Atlantic and with it the war. The importance of air power in the war against the U-boat was amply demonstrated when the closing of the Mid-Atlantic Air Gap in 1943 by Coastal Command aircraft effectively brought victory in the Atlantic campaign. Coastal Command also played a vital role in combating the German surface navy and, in the later stages of the war, in attacking Germany’s maritime links with Scandinavia.application/PDFenCoastal CommandRoyal Air ForceSecond World WarJournal articleAir Power Review2019-06-25