not in reilly

A collection of war poems and recollections written by
Sergeant Jim Brookbank RAF
whilst serving as a Bomb Aimer with
IX SQUADRON BOMBER COMMAND
1944 - 1946



Jim joined IX Squadron in 5 Group, Bomber Command based at RAF Bardney in Lincolnshire. He served as Bomb Aimer.
photo of the book "Before The Dawn"

No 9 Squadron flew Lancasters and was tasked to attack the enemy's war machine.

No 9 Squadron flew both night and day attacks; the Ruhr Valley, the armaments factories, the aircraft industries, the railway marshalling yards and communications networks, the Dortmund - Ems canal, the enemy ports and shipping.


from his website

Proceeds from the sales of BEFORE THE DAWN go to charities related to the armed services.

Jim Brookbank volunteered for training in October 1941. He joined IX Squadron in 5 Group, Bomber Command based at RAF Bardney in Lincolnshire. He served as Bomb Aimer.

No 9 Squadron flew Lancasters and was tasked to attack the enemy's war machine. It flew both night and day attacks; the Ruhr Valley, the armaments factories, the aircraft industries, the railway marshalling yards and communications networks, the Dortmund - Ems canal, the enemy ports and shipping.
" It is not generally known that aircrew were an all volunteer force. No-one could be conscripted into aircrew"
Jim Brookbank
"... until we were joined by the American Eighth Air Force Bomber Command alone was the only arm of any of the armed services capable of taking the war to the heart of enemy territory to cause havoc and destruction to the German war industry"
Jim Brookbank