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Cinderella Boys

The Forgotten RAF Force That Won the Battle of the Atlantic

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Cinderella Boys

By: Leo McKinstry
Narrated by: Peter Noble
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About this listen

The remarkable story of the unsung RAF wing who rescued Britain from Hitler's U-boats and made Allied victory possible.

In early 1943 Britain was engaged in an epic struggle for survival. As the deadly wolf packs of German U-boats roamed the Atlantic, supply lines and shipping losses fell victim to the carnage.

In desperation, Churchill turned to the RAF's maritime wing - an overlooked, underfunded force known as "The Cinderella Service". But the ascendancy of the U-boat forced a change in attitude. Provided with the long-range planes, depth charges, rocket projectiles and radar equipment with which to challenge the enemy. The Cinderella boys provided vital air defence the whole way across the Atlantic. The German hunters were now the hunted, and - in a stunning defeat - had fully retreated by the summer of 1943.

The transformation of Coastal Command from a ramshackle outfit into a vast, formidable organisation provided one of the turning points of the war, keeping Britain in the war and opening the way to D-Day in 1944. But they never received the credit they deserved.

Based on a wealth of new sources, including from diaries, log books, official records, archives and interviews, Leo McKinstry shines a new light the courageous pilots, ingenious scientists and political risktakers - many of them outsiders - who defended the freezing Atlantic from Nazi rule.

©2023 Leo McKinstry (P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Air Forces Military War Transportation U-Boat Thought-Provoking Submarine Aviation Winston Churchill
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Critic reviews

If any branch of Britain's armed force in the Second World War needs saving from an undeserved obscurity, it is RAF Coastal Command. McKinstry has done a fine job in rescuing it from long neglect (Richard Overy, author of BLOOD AND RUINS)
A story as satisfying as it is utterly compelling (Duncan Campbell-Smith, author of JET MAN)
An engrossing account of the huge, and often under-appreciated, contribution made by RAF Coastal Command to the defeat of Hitler's Reich (Brendan Simms, co-author of HITLER'S AMERICAN GAMBLE)

What listeners say about Cinderella Boys

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  • Overall
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Very factual and accurate

Liked it all especially its wide coverage of the events and the whole story of Coastal Command

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Excellent history of an unsung part of WW2

Nothing to dislike - well written and well narrated. Good level of detail without being too dry. Well worth a listen if you are interested in the RAF and World War 2, and even if you aren’t it’s a fascinating story

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Fascinating account of a crucial wartime branch of the RAF.

As always, the author has written an excellent and fascinatingly detailed account of a branch of the RAF that didn’t receive the limelight in the same way as Fighter and Bomber Commands. Yet, as listening to the book reveals, Coastal Command was arguably more efficiently effective overall by attacking U-Boats and shipping, rescuing downed airmen and protecting convoy shipping than Bomber Command was at destroying targets on the ground. The narrator is wonderful to listen to and brings the book alive, as he always does. This is another great book from the author.

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An excellent history

Well researched and read history of the greatest command in the R.A.F. Sadly bullied and written off by many within the air and naval commands, including Churchill. Who would not listen to or consider the vital work carried out by the brave airmen giving their all to defend those in peril to bring in the vital supplies for the country to survive and carry out the war.

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Insightful

Very comprehensive coverage of the struggle of RAF coastal command with its constant battle against the other sections of the RAF, namely bomber Harris who was its biggest enemy, even more so than the German navy! I particularly liked the anecdotes of the aircrew throughout the book. The narration was excellent. Please add the photos as per the printed book!

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Moving and fascinating

My Grandfather worked on a merchantman during the war and often talked of the admiration (and indeed relief) the lads at sea had at the sight of a Coastal Command aircraft. This history really moved me in so many ways, an oft overlooked and underrated arm of the RAF who never gave up and lived up truly to their motto of "Constant Endeavour". Peter Noble's narration is perfect and Leo McKinstry has provided us with a definitive and fascinating history. One of the best non-fiction audibles I've listened to.

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Superb!

Really enjoyed this book. Full of technical detail and historical consequences of Decisions made by leaders at the time. 100% recommend.

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Excellent.

There is so little told about Coastal Command and there struggles during the war period.
Often over shadowed by other Command's.
Thank you for telling there story.

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brave guys

Great to hear the stories of the ops by catalina Sunderland swordfish wellington hudson whitley fortress liberator & all the other aircraft & Faboulous aircrew of coastal command.. this should be thought in schools.

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An excellent review of a little understood area of warfare.

A humbling testament to the courage and bravery 0f those in Coastal Command. I know I will re listen again and again.

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