*** World War II air campaign -- Battle of Britain the Luftwaffe








Battle of Britain Luftwaffe
Figure 1.--Britain fearing Luftwaffe raid began evacuating the children from Lonsdon and major cities as the Panzers rolled into Poland (September 1, 1939). Without bases in France, however, the Lufwaffe was not capable of attacking Britain in force. The He-111 was the primary bomber used by the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. This He-111 was shot down (October 28, 1939). It was the first German plane shot down over Britain. We are not sure what the German missiom was, perhps it was sent to test British air defenses. Notice that it seems to be along the coast. Also that the propeller was not functioning when it crashed even though the engine and fuselage in general looks undamaged. This suggests the pilot may have run out of fuel.

World War II Air Campaign: Battle of Britain Forces--The Luftwaffe

"My Luftwaffe is invincible .... And so now we turn to England. How long will this one last two, three weeks?"

-- Herman Göring, Reichmarshal, June 1, 1940

The German Luftwaffe at the start of the Battle of Britain was the most powerful airforce on the War. It had at the time was seen as a vast air armada to hurl at the British. The Luftwaffe deployed 2,355 planes, including 1,000 bombers and over 700 front-line fighters. It was the largest and most effctive airforce in the world. This was the force that had so frightned the British and French at Munich. The Luftwaffe had superbly trained and more experienced pilots. Their fighter pilots had a well-conceived tactical doctrine. The RAF was ill prepared for the campaign. They had been bloodied in France. The Lufwaffe had, however, severe weaknesses. It was conceived as a tactical air force and was not equipped for a strategic bombing campaign, especially one at substantial distances from their bases. The German air offensive was to be conducted with two engine medium bombers that proved highly effective in short range tactical operations, but were not well suited for long-range strategic bombing. They had no strategic bomber fleet with the ability to strike inforce throughout Britain. The Me-109 was, however, the preminent fighter in the opening years of the War, although its edge over British and French fighters is commonly overstated. The reason the Luftwaffe did so well in France was the concentration of force and its attack mode which put the the Allied fiughters at a disadvantage, easy targets on the ground, without radar. The British Spitfire was the first oposing fighter of comparable capabilities. It was over Britain that the inadequacies of the Luftwaffe first became apparent. The Me-109 had several advantages, including fuel injection and canon rather than machine guns. Its major disadvantage was its limited range which meant that over England it had only minutes of combat to protect the bombers. Over Kent this was manageable, but further north the fighters could not stay with the bombers very long and north of London fighter escorts were ot possible. And it was in the industrial Midlands north of industry when British industry was located. No matter how good the Me-109 was, it was valuless after it had to wihdraw across the Channel. The greatest problem for the Germans, however, was the chief of the Luftwaffe was incompetent and more concerned with maintaing his relationship with Hitler than listening to his competent commanders. And not fully understood at the onset of the Battle was that their bombers (Do-17, Ju-87, Ju-88, and He-111) were totally unsuited for the campaign. All four were not only slow, but carried only small bomb loads. And most importantly they were vulnerable to the British fighters. Lufwaffe bombers had 6-7 hours of fuel bringing most British cities within range. Luftwaffe fighters, however, could only cover the bombers raiding southern England and not beyond London. And even then they only had fuel for a few minutes of aerial combat. Another problem was that the German planes were beautifully engineered, but were complicated and required extensive maintenance. This meant that the Luftwaffe was unable to strike with the full force, especially after the opening raids. .

The Luftwaffe

The German Luftwaffe at the start of the Battle of Britain was the most powerful airforce on the War. The Germans during World War I created a highly effective air arm (1914-18). The airplane was first used in any significant way in World War I. It played a useful, but marginal role. The Allies were able to outproduce the Germans, but both side made important technological strides. The German air ace the Red Baron (von Rictoff) was the most famous pilot of the War. When he was killed, Herman G�ring took over command of the the Flying Circus. The German air forces were dissolved after the War, as required by the Treaty of Versailles. Even so the German military continued to develop technology through secret arrangements with foreign countries. German companies built planes in other countries, especially the Netherlands. Glider clubs throughout Germany provided training for future pilots. The operations were expanded when the NAZIs seized control (1933). Soviets and Japanese. Adolt Hiter ordered G�ring to formally establish the Luftwaffe (February 26, 1935). The Versailles Treatu was still in force. Great priority was given to building advanced all-metal planes. By the time the Allies attempted to face up to Hitler at Munich (October 1938), Germany had the largest, most modern air force in the world. It was a major reason why the Allies decided to appease Hitler. When World War II finally broke out in Poland (September 1939), the Luftwaffe played a major in the early German victories. , on the eve of the outbreak of World War II, the Luftwaffe had become the most advanced, powerful air force in the world. As such it played a major role in Germany's early successes in the war, and formed a key part of the Blitzkrieg concept, much thanks to the use of the innovative Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber (Sturzkampfflugzeug - "Stuka"). A contingent from the Luftwaffe (The Legion Condor) was sent to support Franco's forces in the Spanish Civil War with planes (notably the Ju 87) and personnel which not provided critical support for Franco, but provided important battle experience for the Luftwaffe that the French Air Force and British Royal Air Force did not have. The Luftwaffe would prove an essential component to Blitkrieg. German artillery, in many cases move by horses, could not keep up with the Panzers. The Luftwaffe could. By the end of the War, the Luftwaffe was decimated. The fundamental weakness was the inability of German industry to create a force large enough to support the many campaigns to which Hitler committed German armed forces.

Force

It had at the time was seen as a vast air armada to hurl at the British. The Luftwaffe deployed 2,355 planes, including 1,000 bombers and over 700 front-line fighters. It was the largest and most effctive air force in the world. This was the force that had so frightned the British and French at Munich.

Aircraft

The Luftwaffe deployed a numbr of different fighters and bombers in the Battle of Britain. The principal fighter was the Me-109. The Me-109 was, however, the preminent fighter in the opening years of the War, although its edge over British and French fighters is commonly overstated. It had several advantages, including fuel injection and canon rather than machine guns. The reason the Luftwaffe did so well in France was the concentration of force and its attack mode which put the the Allied fighters at a disadvantage, easy targets on the ground, without radar. G�ring had high hopes for the longer-range Me-110, but it proved embarasingly disappointing, that it required Me-109 escorts. The bombers included the Do-17, Ju-87, Ju-88, and He-111). The Ju-87 was single engine Ju-87 Stuka. It was very effectibedivebomber, but could only be used where the Germans had stablished air superiority which the Germans learned at condiderable cost in the ooening phase of the battle. The Do-17, Ju-88, and He-111 were twin engine medium bombers. The Luftwaffe did not build a heavy strategic bomber in any number.

Pilots

The Luftwaffe had superbly trained and more experienced pilots. Their fighter pilots had a well-conceived tactical doctrine. The RAF was ill prepared for the campaign. They had been bloodied in France.

Weaknesses

The Lufwaffe with all its strengths had, however, had severe weaknesses. It was conceived as a tactical air force and was not equipped for a strategic bombing campaign, especially one at substantial distances from their bases. The German air offensive was to be conducted with two engine medium bombers that proved highly effective in short range tactical operations, but were not well suited for long-range strategic bombing. They had no strategic bomber fleet with the ability to strike inforce throughout Britain. The Me-109 was a superb fighter. But much of itsearly successwas in facing obselete aircraft and tactics. The British Spitfire was the first oposing fighter of comparable capabilities. And the RAF was thefirst time the Luftwaffe faced an opponent with an integrated air defense. It was over Britain that the inadequacies of the Luftwaffe first became apparent. The Me-109 was one of the superb fighters of the War. The major problem over Britain washowit was used. Its major disadvantage was its limited range which meant that over England it had only minutes of combat to protect the bombers. Over Kent this was manageable, but further north the fighters could not stay with the bombers very long and north of London fighter escorts were ot possible. And it was in the industrial Midlands north of industry when British industry was located. No matter how good the Me-109 was, it was valuless after it had to wihdraw across the Channel. The greatest problem for the Germans, however, was the chief of the Luftwaffe was incompetent, not stupid but incompetent. G�rimg was more concerned with maintaing his relationship with Hitler than listening to his knowledgeable commanders. And not fully understood at the onset of the Battle was that their bombers were totally unsuited for the campaign. All four were not only slow, but carried only small bomb loads. And most importantly they were vulnerable to the British fighters. Lufwaffe bombers had 6-7 hours of fuel bringing most British cities within range. Luftwaffe fighters, however, could only cover the bombers raiding southern England and not beyond London. And even then they only had fuel for a few minutes of aerial combat. Another problem was that the German planes were beautifully engineered, but were complicated and required extensive maintenance. This meant that the Luftwaffe was unable to strike with the full force, especially after the opening raids.







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Created: 7:22 AM 9/8/2017
Last updated: 8:13 AM 2/21/2024