Big week: the biggest air battle of World War Two. James Holland. 2018.

During the third week of February 1944, the combined Allied air forces launched their first-ever round-the-clock bomber offensive against Germany. These aim was to smash the main factories and production centres of the Luftwaffe and at the same time draw the German fighter force up into the air and into battle. Officially called Operation ARGUMENT, this monumental air assault very quickly became known simply as Big Week.

In the six months before its launch, the bomber war was not turning out as the Allies had planned. Raids deep into Germany were falling short of their purpose and losses were severe. Air attacks needed clear skies, but the weather was atrocious. With D-Day drawing ever closer, these problems needed to be solved urgently.

Yet the Luftwaffe was also in crisis, short of resources, fuel and properly trained pilots, the strain on those still flying was immense and the number of casualties catastrophic.