THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

THE BATTLE OF BRITAINJULY OCTOBER, 1940WE SHALL GO ON TO THE END. WE SHALL FIGHT IN FRANCE. WE SHALL FIGHT ON THE SEAS AND OCEANS. WE SHALL FIGHT WITH GROWING CONFIDENCE AND GROWING STRENGTH IN THE AIR, WE SHALL DEFEND OUR ISLAND, WHATEVER THE COST MAY BE. WE SHALL FIGHT ON THE BEACHES, WE SHALL FIGHT ON THE LANDING GROUNDS, WE SHALL FIGHT IN THE FIELDS AND IN THE STREETS. WE SHALL FIGHT IN THE HILLS. WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER.

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL, JUNE 4, 1940THE Battle of France IS OVER. I EXPECT THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.WINSTON CHURCHILL, HOUSE OF COMMONS SPEECH, 1940 BACKGROUNDCAUSES:WERMACHT SUCCESSES IN SPRING, 1940 LEAD HITLER TO HOPE / BELIEVETHE WAR IS BASICALLY OVER (AT LEAST IN WESTERN EUROPE)THE U.K. WILL SETTLE FOR PEACEPOSSIBLE EFFECT? IF SO, GERMANY WOULD BE FREE TO CONTROL EUROPE WITHOUT INTERFERENCEGERMANS COULD SHIFT MILITARY FOCUS (AGAIN) TOWARDS EAST TO PREPARE FOR RUSSIAN INVASIONHITLER & GOERING DONT THINK BRITISH AIR FORCE (R.A.F.ROYAL AIR FORCE) HAS THE ABILITY TO DEFEND BRITAIN LONG-TERM. THEY ALSOBELIEVE BRITS ARE DEMORALIZEDDONT BELIEVE U.S. WILL BE DRAWN INTO THE WARTHEREFORE, THEY THINK THE BRITS ARE PLAYING FOR TIMEWERMACHT, AND ESPECIALLY LUFTWAFFE, MORALE IS VERY HIGH DEFEAT IS NOT GENERALLY REGARDED AS A POSSIBILITY BY TROOPS, PILOTS, ETC.PROBLEM?CHAMBERLAIN IS GONE; CHURCHILL IS NEW PRIME MINISTERCHURCHILL WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH / APPEASE GERMANSRESULT? HITLER ORDERS & PLANS FOR AMPHIBIOUS / AIRBORNE INVASION OF BRITIANINVASION MUST BE PRECEDED BY AERIAL ATTACK TO NEUTRALIZER.A.FROYAL NAVY WHY? SO THAT THE ENGLISH CHANNEL WILL BE OPEN FOR INVASION FLEET

OPERATION SEA LION INVASION PLAN JUNE, 1940

LUFTWAFFE OPERATION PLANSGERMAN PLAN FOR AERIAL ASSAULT WAS NOT WELL PLANNEDRESULT? A CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING STRATEGY & TACTICSLACKED ORGANIZATION & COORDINATED ATTACKBATTLE OF BRITAIN BECAME BROKE INTO 4 PHASES, EACH W/ A DIFFERENT GOALPHASES OF THE BATTLE:PHASE 1: ATTACK NAVY CONVOYS IN ENGLISH CHANNELATTACK RADAR STATIONS ON COASTATTACK COASTAL CITIES TARGETED FOR INVASION SITESPHASE 2:DESTROY R.A.F. FIGHTERS IN LARGE NUMBERS (ON GROUND OR IN AIR COMBAT)ARIFIELDS IN S.E. ENGLAND WERE HIT HARDESTPHASE 3: LONDON & MAJOR CITIES BOMBEDFACTORIES & STRATEGIC SITES ALSO TARGETEDPHASE 4: CITIES BOMBED IN NIGHT RAIDSAIRFIELDS & MILITARY TARGETS ALSO ATTACKEDBEGINNING OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE BLITZ***THE BLITZ WAS A PERIOD OF INTENSE BOMBING ON CITIES, ESPECIALLY LONDON THAT BEGAN AS THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN WAS COMING TO A CLOSEPHASE I

PHASE 2

PHASE 3

PHASE 4

BRITISH PLAN FOR DEFENSEBRITISH PLAN RELIED HEAVILY ON 4 FACTORS ALL HAD TO BE WELL COORDINATED IN ORDER FOR PLAN TRO SUCCEED:RADAR: COASTAL R.D.F. SITES WOULD IDENTIFY ENEMY PLAN FORMATIONSALARM THEN SENT TO R.A.F. COMMUNICATION CENTERSINFORMATION (# OF PLANES, DIRECTION, etc.) SENT TO AIR GROUPSIDIVIDUAL SQUADRONS ALERTED & SCRAMBLED TO INTERCEPT GERMANSBRITISH HAD ALSO MADE BACKUP PLANS IF THIS RADAR WAS KNOCKED OUTEXAMPLE: BRITISH CIVILIAN OBSERVER CORPS ON COAST ALSO WATCHED FOR LUFTWAFFETHEY COULD ALSO ALERT R.A.F. BY PHONEANTI-AIRCRAFT SITES PLACEDON COASTAROUND ALL AIRFIELDSAROUND ALL MAJOR CITIES

R.A.F.PILOTS BEINGSCRAMBLEDFROM AIRFIELD

LONDON HERALDAUGUST, 1940

R.A.F. SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE

HAWKER HURRICANE

BASIC DESIGN SCHEME;HAWKER HURRICANE (top)SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE (right)

HURRICANE & SPITFIRE

SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE, PRESENT-DAY

DOGFIGHT: Me-109 and Spitfire

ORDER OF BATTLE STRENGTH OF FORCES:R.A.F.: 1,963 AIRCRAFTLUFTWAFFE: 4,074 AIRCRAFTCOMMANDERS:R.A.F.:AIR MARSHALL SIR HUGH DOWDING C/O, FIGHTER COMMANDAIR VICE MARSHALL SIR KEITH PARK X/O, FIGHTER COOMANDLUTFWAFFE: HERMANN GOERINGPRIMARY AIRCRAFT:R.A.F.:SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE SINGLE-ENGINE FIGHTERHAWKER HURRICANE SINGLE ENGINE FIGHTERLUFTWAFFE:MESSERSCHMIDT Me-109 SINGLE-ENGINE FIGHTERMESSERSCHMIDT Bf-109 SINGLE-ENGINE FIGHTERMESSERSCHMIDT Bf-110 TWIN-ENGINE FIGHTER/BOMBERJUNKERS Ju-87 STUKA SINGLE ENGINE DIVE BOMBERHEINKEL He-111 TWIN-ENGINE, MULTIPLE CREW BOMBERAIR UNITS:R.A.F.:4 PRIMARY AIR GROUPS, COVERING ENGLAND, SCOTLAND & WALES13 GROUP: SCOTLAND12 GROUP: CENTRAL ENGLAND11 GROUP: LONDON & S.E. ENGLAND10 GROUP: WALES & W. ENGLANDLUFTWAFFE: 3 AIR GROUPS, CALLED LUFTFLOTTELUFTFLOTTE 2 TARGETED LONDON & S.E. ENGLANDLUFTFLOTTE 3 TARGETED WALES & W. ENGLANDLUFTFOLTTE 5 (unit based in Norway) TARGETED N. ENGLAND & SCOTLAND BASIC TACTICSR.A.F.:USE RADAR SYSTEM TO DETECT GERMAN AIR MOVEMENT EARLY (while forming over France or over the English Channel)RADAR POSTS ALERT SQUADRONSSQUADRONS SCRAMBLE (2-3 min) TO GET AIRBORNERADAR POSTS GUIDE SQUADRONS TO INTERCEPT POINTS (altitude, direction, etc.)SQUADRONS ATTEMPT TO SHOOT DOWN AS MANY BOMBERS AS POSSIBLELUTFWAFFE:AIR GROUPS ALL HAVE DESIGNATED TARGETS (airfields, factories, etc.)FIGHTERS CONCENTRATE ON STRAFING R.A.F. AIRFIELDS OR SHOOTING DOWN FIGHTERSBOMBERS HEAD TO TARGETS AND CONCENTRATE ON KNOCKING THEM OUTR.A.F. AIR GROUPSBATTLE OF BRITAIN, 1940

R.A.F. DEFENSE SYSTEM, SOUTHEASTERN ENGLAND,SUMMER, 1940

HERMANN GOERING SIR HUGH DOWDING SIR KEITH PARK Commanding Officer Commanding Officer Executive Officer German Luftwaffe Fighter Command Fighter Command Royal Air Force Royal Air Force

SPITFIRE ATTACK ON He-111 BOMBER SQUADRON

ADOLPH GALLAND, LUFTWAFE ADOLPH SAILOR MALLAN, R.A.F. 58 KILLS 27 KILLS, 7 SHARED, 3 PROBABLES, 16 DAMAGED

GROUP LEADER Major Werner Molders, LuftwaffeDOUGLAS BADER, R.A.F. 30 Kills11 Kills, 4 Shared, 6 Probable, 11 Damaged

SAILOR MALLANS RULES OF ENGAGEMENTWAIT TO SHOOT UNTIL YOU SEE THE WHITES OF HIS EYES. FIRE SHORT BURSTS OF 1-2 SECONDS ONLY WHEN YOUR SIGHTS ARE DEFINITELY ON THE TARGET.BRACE YOUR WHOLE BODY WHEN SHOOTING. KEPP BOTH HANDS ON THE CONTROL STICK AND CONCENTRATE ON YOUR GUN SIGHT.ALWAYS KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT FOR THE ENEMY.HEIGHT GIVES YOU THE INITIATIVE.ALWAYS TURN AND FACE THE ATTCK.MAKE YOUR DECISIONS PROMPTLY. ITS BETTER TO ACT QUICKLY EVEN IF YOUR TACTTICS ARENT THE BEST.NEVER FLY STRAIGHT AND LEVEL IN THE COMBAT AREA FOR MORE THAN 30 SECONDS.WHEN DIVING TO ATTACK, ALWAYS LEAVE A PART OF YOUR SQUADRON ABOVE TO ACT AS A TOP GUARD AGAINST ATTACK.INITIATIVE, AGGRESSION, AIR DISCIPLINE AND TEAM WORK ARE WORDS THAT MEAN SOMEHTING IN AIR COMBAT.GO IN QUICKLY PUNCH HARD GET OUT!ADOLPH GALLAND

GALLANDs Bf-109 FIGHTER

MESSERSCHMIDT Me/Bf-109 SINGLE-SEAT FIGHTERBASIC DESIGN SCHEME: MESSERSCHMIDT Me/Bf-109

Me-109 SQUADRON ON GERMAN AIRFIELD, 1939

MESSERSCHMIDT Bf-109 DURING TAKEOFF

HEINKEL He-111 TWIN ENGINE BOMBER

JUNKERS Ju-28 STUKA DIVE BOMBER

JUNKERS Ju-28 STUKA DIVE BOMBER

BRITISH and GERMAN AIRFIELD DISPERSAL, MAY OCT., 1940

Heinkel He-111Bomber overLondon

BLITZ DAMAGE IN LONDON

St. Pauls Cathedral, London, During The Blitz

DEVELOPMENTSPROBLEMS DEVELOP FOR BOTH SIDESR.A.F:NUMBERS OF PLANES PRODUCED BY BRIT. FACTORIES IS HIGHER THAN # OF TRAINED PILOTSR.A.F. HAS TO RELY ON HASTILY TRAINED or FOREIGN PILOTS TO KEEP FIGHTERS IN AIRINITIAL R.A.F. TACTICS DIDNT WORK WELLRESULTS: NUMEROUS CASUALTIES AMONG YOUNG, UNTRAINED PILOTSLUTFWAFFE:PLANES HAVE LIMITED FUEL CAPACITY (have further to go to land, refuel)PLANES ARE OVER ENEMY TERRITORY IF TROUBLE HAPPENSBOMBERS ARE SLOW AND VULNERABLE TO FIGHTER ATTACKFIGHTERS HAVE TO BE USED INCREASINGLY TO COVER BOMBERSRESULTS:HEAVY LOSSES FOR BOMBER CREWSR.A.F. FIGHTERS ARE NOT NEUTRALIZED ON GROUND

RESULTSCASUALTIES:R.A.F.:544 KIA1,547 AIRCRAFT DESTROYEDLUFTWAFFE:2,500 KIA1,887 AIRCRAFT DESTROYEDLOSSES ARE HIGHEST AMONGST BOMBER / DIVE BOMBER CREWSLONG-TERM RESULTS:ENGLISH CHANNEL REMAINS OPEN TO BRIT./ALLIED NAVAL FORCESOPERATION SEA LION IS CANCELLEDR.A.F. FIGHTER COMMAND GAINS VALUABLE EXPERIENCEGERMANS SUFFER FIRST LOSS OF THE WARHITLER ORDERS PREPARATIONS FOR INVASION OF RUSSIAGERMANS WILL SOON BE INVOLVED IN A TWO-FRONT WAR

1940 R.A.F.PROPAGANDAPOSTER

BATTLE OF BRITAIN R.A.F. MEMORIAL

RIGHT: CHURCHILL DURING THE BLITZBELOW: CHURCHILL AT HOME NEVER IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN CONFLICT WAS SO MUCH OWED BY SO MANY TO SO FEW.WINSTON CHURCHILL, 1940

WE SHALL FIGHT THEM ON THE BEACHES,WE SHALL FIGHT THEM IN THE FIELDS AND IN THE STEETS,WE SHALL FIGHT THEM IN THE HILLS,WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER.Winston Churchill

LET US BRACE OURSELVES TO OUR DUTIES, AND SO BEAR OURSELVES, THAT IF THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH LASTS FOR A THOUSAND YEARS, MEN WILL STILL SAY,THIS WAS THEIR FINEST HOUR.

WINSTON CHURCHILL