Figure 1.--

The basic command structure of the Roal Air Force was created (1936). It would be the basic RAF structure when war came (1939) and continued to be so throughout the War with only minor changes. The three basic commands were Bomber, Fighter, and Coastal Command. There were minor changes over time, but these were the three major components. Fighter Command receuves great attention because of the Battle of Britain, but thus was obly al imited period of the War. It was Bomber Comnmand that tat carried tghe war tio Germany and played the largest role in winning the War. Bombrr Command is also the most controversial because of the civilian casualtis, but thisis oprimarily an issue that developed after the War with modern sensibilities, often ideologically based. It was not a major focus during the War when the major cocern was winning the War.

Bomber Command

The largest and most important component of the Royal Air Force was was Bomber Command. This was the case because of Air Marshal Hugh Trenchard's focus on strategic bombing. Trenchard led the British air forces during Wiorld War I and was central in crreatingv an indeoendent air service after the War abd focus it on stratehic bombing. Fighter Command was vital in saving Britain during the Battle of Britain, but it was Bomber Command that was the major component of the RAF. Churchill exxplained it best. Fighter Command was vital in saving Britain in 1940. But the only way of getting at the NAZI war machine for most of the War was Bomber Command. Most of the RAF's limited resources were put into bombers throughout the 1920s and early-30s. There was a crash program to build fighters in the lead up to World War II, but bombers absorbed the lion's share of RAF resources during the War, something like half of the British war economy. (This was also the case for America and Britain.) The commitment to the aur war was due to Trenchard's influence before the war and the importance Churchill assigned to strategic bombing during the War. Despite the expenditures in the 1920s and 30s, Bomber Commend did not have an aircraft capable of strategic bombing when the War broke out (1939). This was because of major avvances in avilation that occurred un the mid-1930s--just at the time that the Lufftwaffe began to build up the fotce available when Wirkld War II commenced. Nomber Command did not have an effective strategic bomber until the Avro Lancster arrived (1942). Then the numbers were phenomenal. There were 64,514 operational sorties flown, 1.0 million tons of bombs were dropped. The cost was high. Some 8,300 aircraft lost in action. Bomber Command crews also suffered an extraordinarily high casualty rate: 55,600 men were killed out of a total of 125,000 aircrew, nearly 45 percent. TYhe strategic bombing campaign is commomly discussed as a combined Allied effort, but it is imprtant to point out the destinctive ciontribution of Bomber Command.

Fighter Command

Hugh Dowding commanded Fighter Command from the beginning. Fighter command lagged in acquiring high-performance aircraft. The Chain Home Network was a priority. Fighter Command did not get modern high-performance for nearly two decades. They finally got Hurricanes in number (1938). Spitfires dud not begin to arrive until less than 2 moths before the outbreak of World War II and only in small numbers (July 1939). The fighter force was split into two sections, defense and attack (November 1943). The defensive force became Air Defense of Great Britain (ADGB) and the offensive force became the RAF Second Tactical Air Force. ADGB was renamed back to Fighter Command (October 1944) in response to the German V-1 attacks. [Franks] Coastal Command despite its importance was the poor sister of the three main RAF commands. Maritime aviation in general had been neglected in the inter-war period, primarily because of infighting between the RN and RAF. [Buckley, p. 185.] And the issue of maritime patrol was not the main issue. The RN's principal concern was the return of the Fleet Air Arm. The RAF's priority was the development of a bombing force.

Coastal Command

Coastal Command's most important contribution responsibility was the protection of the all important North Atlantic convoys. But because neither the RN or RAF saw this as a priority before the War, those convoys got little air protection during the opening stages of the Battle of Britain. Coastal Command had trouble getting aircraft. Bomber Command did not want to give up any of their force. Finally the American B-24 Liberator would give the convoys the covered they needed.

Training Command

There was the temporary creation of Training Command (1936-40). As increasing numbers of aircraft began to arrive, the RAF needed an expanded training effort. The RAF almost lost the Battle of Britain, not because of loss of aircraft, but the shortage of trained pilots. The RAF had set up a volunteer (unpaid) reserve. This would prove to be a critical source of manpower when the war began. Aircraft could be built in a short time. Training a pilot took about 2 years. Between 1934 and the outbreak of war, RAF personnel tripled.

Sources

Created: 3:53 AM 11/7/2023
Last updated: 7:25 PM 11/15/2023