The Job To Be Done: A Son's Journey Into The Story Of A WW2 Bomber Command Aircrew

by Clint L. Coffey

A unique blend of historical narrative and personal memoir, this is the powerful true story of seven young men, including the author’s father, who served in Bomber Command in World War Two.

Based on a pilot’s logbook and years of research, this beautifully crafted historical exploration follows the young airmen through training and then vividly relates their experiences in almost sixty combat operations against targets in Germany and France. The story of their lives after returning home, including the burdens they carried with them, is told with empathy and compassion.

The Job To Be Done is a compelling combination of original WW2 records and historical fact with thoughtful analysis and insights. Using unique maps, photographs, logbook pages and interviews and anecdotes, it crafts a deeply personal story that will resonate with fans of both military history and memoir. The Job To Be Done is a heartfelt tribute and a uniquely rewarding reading experience.

423 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2023

Reviews

[Claudia Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Job to Be Done, using his dad’s logbook as a starting point, Clint Coffey takes the reader through the journey of a bomber crew right from training until the end of the war and beyond, offering a deeper understanding of what they experienced. One cannot read this book without acquiring a profound appreciation for the unbelievably steep learning curve that these (often very) young men of Bomber Command, many with only the most basic of education, had to overcome, both individually and as a team. By the end of the war, their success was evident—the scars they bore as a result less so, particularly the psychological ones.

It is those scars, from dozens of physically gruelling and psychologically brutal operational flights, that come to light as the author pieces together the story of the Coffey crew also as individuals. Having managed to track down relatives of each crew member, and even the last living member (by then in his nineties), he brings the story full circle, giving us a glimpse into their post-war lives, their ultimate fates both heartening and heartbreaking.

The Job to Be Done also touches on many other fascinating stories that could easily take readers down a rabbit hole. One of these, the mysterious story of Pilot Officer Ross Bell Nairn, has really piqued my interest.

It took Coffey around eight years to research and write The Job to Be Done. Reading it, I was amazed that one person—particularly one for whom historical research is not his day job—managed to write such a detailed book in just eight years. His work is a prime example of the value and importance of so-called amateur historians, with the contribution of personal stories and accounts that would otherwise be lost forever to the historical record of the nation and the world.

Coffey passionately and eloquently expresses the significance and sacrifice of Bomber Command and our “bomber boys,” putting into perspective the price that was paid to buy our freedom. This is a great read on a subject that should be on all our minds these days as we find ourselves in very uncertain and insecure times.

[Linda Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an interesting story and the extensive research undertaken by the author is obvious. It should be part of anyone's library who is interested in WWII pilots, training, RCAF, Bomber Command, and raids. Bomber Command training was gruelling, much was undertaken in Canada, and many men didn't make the cut. It is hard for us to understand what it was like to live in those times and circumstances, war is hard on everyone's mental and physical health. It is understandable that the men and women don't talk about it, but we should to learn lessons. This book is a tribute, both to the author's father and his crewmates, but also to those many ordinary men and women who were ill-prepared for the extraordinary service they were asked to perform. It is shameful they were 'dumped' back into civvie street, probably with what we now know as PTSD and left to get on with it.
Thank you to lovereading for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review. It will stay with me for a long time.