Examines the German Luftwaffe's air raid on Coventry, England, on November 14, 1940, and its impact and precedent as a new kind of air warfare.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 333-339) and index.

Wool, buttons, and magnetos -- 'The bomber will always get through' -- Boom -- Waiting for the Luftwaffe -- Blitz -- Raiders -- Knickebein -- Korn -- Finding the beam -- Red alert -- Executive cold water -- 'A seething mass of flame' -- Death in the suburbs -- The long night ending -- The martyred city -- 'Are we down-hearted?' -- The quick and the dead -- Coventrated? -- Defiance -- 'Thank goodness you're alright' -- Resurgam.