{"product_id":"9780861549245-operation-bowler","title":"Operation Bowler","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Audacious Allied Bombing of Venice\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe thrilling true story behind the Allies’ mission to take back Venice from the Germans – and save its artistic and architectural treasures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e21 March 1945. 1530 hours. Dozens of Allied fighters and bombers sweep over German-occupied Venice. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTheir mission – destroy Germany’s strategic outposts nestled along the port, while leaving the floating city unscathed.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs bombs rained down upon Europe, flattening city after city, Venice – \u003cem\u003eLa Serenissima; \u003c\/em\u003ehome of Titian and Veronese; immortalised in the serene landscapes of Canaletto – remained sacrosanct. Its artistic and architectural treasure too considerable, too precious to risk destruction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut, as the push up through Italy reached its final, gruelling months, the Allies were confronted with a terrible dilemma. The ancient city of Venice was now closer and closer to the line of fire. As casualties mounted, the value of art, of history seemed diminished – just a month earlier Allied bombers had reduced the ancient hilltop abbey of Monte Cassino to a stony husk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a gripping tale, bestselling author Jonathan Glancey reveals the thrilling history of ‘Operation Bowler’. Joining audacious Wing Commander George Westlake DFC and his elite team, \u003cem\u003eOperation Bowler\u003c\/em\u003e explores how an unlikely squad of pilots executed one of the most meticulous and complex air raids of the Second World War, sparing not only Venice, but its people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41769860956257,"sku":"9780861549245","price":23.21,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/stand_32274929.jpg?v=1737113209","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9780861549245-operation-bowler","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}