Air War

• The Battle of Britain


  A key turning point in World War II, although it did not mean the end of the conflict. The survival of Britain had major implications for the future of the war.
• Force Sizes

  • RAF: Close to 1000 aircraft in France, 477 of which were fighters
  • Air Marshal Dowding's Fighter Command: 650 fighters in 52 squadrons
  • Luftwaffe: 2800 aircraft, 900 of which were fighters and 300 were bombers
• Significance of the Battle of Britain

  • Losses sustained by the Luftwaffe due to poor tactics and leadership, coupled with superior tactics and infrastructure of the British, impacted Germany's ability to supply and wage war on other fronts and left Germany in a weak position to be defended in 1944.
  • British victory meant that Britain would remain in the war, which would be critical to Allied victory in the stages of the conflict e.g. North Africa and Normandy.
  • The Allied bombing of Germany had been identified as one of the largest reasons for German defeat as it starved the German war machine so that it was incapable of resupplying the front lines.
• Luftwaffe stock

  • Fighters (Messerschmitt BF-109, Focke Wulf 190): 800
  • Twin-Engine Fighters (Messerschmitt BF-110): 280
  • Bombers (Heinkel He 111, Dornier Do 17, Junkers Ju 88): 1260
  • Dive Bombers (Junkers Ju 87): 320
• Luftwaffe losses

  1244 aircraft
• RAF losses

  688 aircraft
• Ultimately Germany failed to secure air superiority over the English Channel; they suffered losses of 1244 pilots and crews; the RAF only lost 688 in August and September.
• Why Britain won the Battle of Britain

  • Radar systems made it possible to detect and track incoming hostile aircraft before arrival.
  • British aircraft production was more efficient (Lord Beaverbrook).
  • German decision to switch tactics (Airfields > Cities) occurred right before the imminent collapse of RAF Fighter Command.
  • The Dowding System provided the RAF with an advanced and sophisticated detection, command and control system.
  • RAF pilots showed enormous skill and courage in the face of insurmountable odds.
  • The RAF had the advantage of fighting over home territory. Meaning that downed RAF aircraft could be recovered and repaired along with the crew, as well as they would be able to fight longer as their target came to them.
• Tactical bombing theory

  Involved destroying specific targets e.g. units and their resources, U-Boat pens, industrial districts. However the technology of the time was limited and therefore there was no guarantee that they would hit the target, (A hit within 8km of the target was considered a success) that was, of course, until the development of the Norden Bomb Sight.
• Saturation bombing theory

  Involved carpet bombing a large area. Dozens of aircraft releasing hundreds of tons of bombs over a wide target zone. Maximum results were guaranteed. Used Avro Lancaster (RAF) bombers and the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (USAAF).
• Germany forced to withdraw aircraft from other fronts → enhancing future Allied offensives
• Dresden

  Not a military target, but a railway terminus. 13-15 Feb 1945, 800 Allied bomber aircraft flew over Dresden dropping 4000 tonnes of ordnance and 650000 incendiary explosives on the city below creating a fireball that could be seen for over 300km, killing 50000 civilians most of which were incinerated. On one occasion 90 schools, 12 hospitals and 35000 homes were obliterated within 7 hours.
• Early Attempts at Bombing Germany

  On the 15th and 16th of May 1940, a 96 strong force of British two engine bombers attacked the Ruhr industrial area. Only 1/4 of crews claimed to have actually found the target area. In 1940, night bombing raids were inaccurate and ineffective.
• Harris takes over


  1. Throughout 1942 and 1943 several developments took place that would assist Harris:

  2. Aircraft production under Lord Beaverbrook was in full swing and by the end of 1942 Harris had over 1000 bombers at his disposal including 178 of the new 4 engine Avro Lancaster bombers which were able to fly a greater distance with a greater load of ordinance.

  3. Improved navigation equipment and flying techniques would make Harris's bombing missions far more effective.

  4. By August 1942, the USAAF would arrive in England to join the RAF.