At the end of the Second World War over 55,000 air crew of Bomber Command had lost their lives, over 70% of the total RAF casualties. Yet in contrast to Fighter Command, few bomber pilots were household names to the general public. However, within the ranks of the RAF itself, some men stood out, gaining high reputations for their courage and leadership, a respect achieved regardless often of the decorations they had won or the number of sorties flown. These were the Bomber Barons.