For a Service that counts attaining Air Superiority as a sine qua non, the RAF post WWII seems to have a blind spot regarding the Bombing Offensive against the German Reich. That Holland shares its view is a matter for him, but to suggest that Wallis did too, simply because of Upkeep and Tallboy is really gilding the lily. Harris believed in area bombing true. But what else could take the war to Germany? No amount of pickle barrels could provide precision bombing in any modern sense. Certainly some weapon systems (mainly Wallis's) provided for precision attacks by day but at considerable cost, and even then shared the beneficial effects that Harris's Old Lags achieved by bludgeoning Germany night after night, together with the USAAC by day. The concentration of flak, and day and night fighters, in the Reich denuded the Eastern and later on the Western Fronts of Air Defence. That slippery charmer, Speer, admitted it was the second front, so by D-Day we are talking four fronts, and counting.
Bomber Command was a war winning weapon system, achieving air superiority in the East and the West for the Allies, and finally in the skies above Germany itself. Harris may have believed that Strategic Bombing could win the war alone, he certainly implied that it might, but he had to fire the bellies of those Old Lags that he sent out night after night with resolve. He was poorly treated by Churchill and by his own Service. 55573 of his command paid the ultimate price, but not in vain. You don't win wars by being nice, you do so by destroying your enemy's ability to wage war. That is what drove Harris and he should be given the credit for his share in final victory.
As to the programme (first tx in 2011 I believe), very good, but could be better I'd say simply by praising Upkeep without the knee jerk need to damn the Bombing Offensive (though the Beeb will never do otherwise I fear).
Last edited by Chugalug2; 1st Jun 2020 at 18:30.