AHC: Peerless Air Ministry

[sonofpegasus]

10.07 Substitutions and preparing the bench.



On the morning of the fifteenth of August Sir Phillip was perusing a report from Sir Hugh Dowding that set out the current disposition of the Squadrons in Fighter Command. Reading this through, Sir Phillip had to keeps checking what had actually changed since the last Order of Battle had been issued to him on the seventh of July.

Fighter Command Order of Battle as of 14th August:

Headquarters Fighter Command, Bentley Priory, Stanmore Middlesex.

Air officer Commanding-in Chief: Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Dowding, G.C.V.O., K.C.B.,C.M.B., Principal Air Aide-de-Camp to the King.


Headquarters No 10 Group: Rudloe Manor, Box Wiltshire,

Air Officers Commanding: Air Vice-Marshall Sir Christopher Quinton Brand, K.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., D.F.C.


Headquarters: No 11 Group: Hillingdon House, Uxbridge, Middlesex.

Air Officer Commanding: Air Vice-Marshall Keith Rodney Park, M.C., D.F.C.


Headquarters: No 12 Group: Watnall, Nottingham, Notts.

Air Officer Commanding: Air Vice-Marshal Richard Ernest Saul.


Headquarters No 13 Group: Blakelaw estate, Ponteland, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Air Officer Commanding: Air Vice Marshall Arthur Conningham.


Headquarters No 14 Group: Drunmossie Hotel, Inverness.

Air Officer Commanding: Air Vice-Marshall Trafford Leigh-Mallory, C.B. D.S.O.

Fighter Command, Strengths and Locations of Units by Sector as of 6pm on 14th August 1940

Sector stations marked *

No 10 Group, Headquarters Box

234 Squadron Spitfire Mk II St Eval

287 Squadron Spitfire Mk II St Eval

609 Squadron Spitfire Mk II Exeter*

87 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Exeter*

213 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Exeter*

92 Squadron Spitfire Mk II Pembrey*

607 Squadron Defiant Pembrey*

73 Squadron Defiant Pembrey*

263 Squadron Reaper Filton

640 Squadron Beaufighter NF Filton

501 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Middle Wallop*

238 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Middle Wallop*

1 RCAF. Squadron Hurricane MkIc Middle Wallop*

No5 OTU. Hurricane MkIc Aston Down

No13 OTU. Bisely NF. Bicester.


No 11 Group, Headquarters Uxbridge

56 Squadron Hurricane MkIc North Weald*

25 Reaper NF Martlesham.

151 Squadron Hurricanes MkIc North Weald*

602 Squadron Spitfire MkII Hornchurch*

74 Squadron Spitfire MkII Hornchurch*

152 Squadron Spitfire MkII Hornchurch*

600 Squadron Reaper NF Biggin Hill*

3 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Hawkinge

603 Squadron Spitfire MkII Biggin Hill*

32 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Biggin Hill*

85 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Debden*

17 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Debden*

19 Squadron Spitfire MkII Duxford*

264 Squadron Defiant Duxford

64 Squadron Spitfire MkII Kenley*

504 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Kenley*

111 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Croydon

1 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Northolt*

257 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Northolt*

43 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Tangmere*

145 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Tangmere*

601 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Westhampnett

12 Group, Headquarters Watnall

249 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Church Fenton*

616 Squadron Spitfire MkII Leconfield

253 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Kirton-in-Lindsey*

222 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Kirton-in-Lindsey*

46 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Digby*

611 Squadron Spitfire MkII Digby*

266 Squadron Spitfire MkII Digby*

29 Squadron Reaper NF Digby*

23 Squadron Reaper NF Wittering*

229 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Wittering*

137 Squadron Reaper Wittering*

247 Squadron Defiant Wittering

66 Squadron Spitfire MkII Coltishall*

242 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Coltishall*

123 Squadron Defiant Coltishall*

96 Squadron Reaper NF Coltishall*

No6 OTU. Spitfire MkII Sutton Bridge



13 Group, Headquarters Newcastle

141 Squadron Defiant Turnhouse*

245 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Turnhouse*

54 Squadron Spitfire MkII Acklington*

72 Squadron Spitfire MkII Acklington*

235 Squadron Bisley NF Acklington*

41 Squadron Spitfire MkII Catterick*

219 Squadron Spitfire MkII Catterick*

604 Squadron Bisley NF Catterick*

232 Squadron Defiant Unsworth*

310 Czech Squadron Spitfire MkII Unsworth*

312 Czech Squadron Reaper (not yet operational) Church Fenton

607 Squadron Defiant Usworth

808 Squadron FAA Fulmar Castletown

No18 Polish OTU. Spitfire MkII Prestwick

No54 OTU. Reaper NF. Church Fenton.


14 Group, Headquarters Inverness

79 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Wick*

615 Squadron Hurricane MkIc Dyce*

610 Squadron Spitfire MkII Dyce*

65 Squadron Spitfire MkII Drem

302 Squadron POC Spitfire MkII Dalcross*

303 Squadron POC Spitfire MkII Dalcross*

305 squadron POC Hurricane Mk1d Milltown

306 Squadron POC Spitfire MkII Lossiemouth

307 squadron POC Reaper NF Banff

308 Squadron POC Spitfire MkII Lossiemouth


Aircraft strengths by squadron type in each Group


Group,
Hurricane MkIc. Spitfire MkII. Defiant. Reaper. Reaper NF. Bisley NF. Beaufighter NF. Group Total

10 5 4 2 1 0 0 1 13

11 13 6 1 0 3 0 0 22

12 6 4 2 1 2 0 0 14

13 1 5 3 0 0 2 0 11

14 3 6 0 0 1 0 0 10
Type
Total 28 25 8 1 6 2 1







When summarising the details, Sir Phillip noted that five squadrons had been moved from the southern Groups up to the north and fresh squadron had gone south to replace them.



607 Squadron moved from 10 Group to 13 Group

65 squadron moved from 11 Group to 13 Group.
79 squadron moved from 11 Group to 14 Group.
615 squadron moved from 11 Group to 14 Group.
610 squadron moved from 11 Group to 14 Group.
602 squadron moved from 13 Group to 11 Group.
3 squadron moved from 14 Group to 11 Group.
504 squadron moved from 14 Group to 11 Group.
603 squadron moved from 14 Group to 11 Group.
605 Squadron moved from 13 Group to 10 Group

He also noted that No 1 Squadron RCAF had become operational and had joined the Order of battle as had 310 Czech Squadron. Sir Phillip also noted that the new Czech squadron No 312 flying Reaper night fighters had been stationed at Church Fenton with No 54 OTU, to gain operational experience of their new aircraft and technicalities of their roll.

None of the moves surprised Sir Phillip as they had been discussed with Sir Hugh beforehand and no doubt as the battle in the south continued to escalate more squadrons would be rested and rebuilt as needed. The decision had been taken not to try and form any further new squadrons but to maintain the largest pool of replacement pilots as possible. Unless one or more of the major aircraft factories were damaged sufficiently to halt production the short term problem would not be the shortage of aircraft but the pilots to fly them. For the same reason the formation of Number Nine Group had proceeded no further than the designation of its intended headquarters at Barton Hall in Lancashire.

Apparently Trafford Leigh Mallory was badgering Sir Hugh to be transferred to another Group that was seeing more daily combat, currently Sir Hugh was quietly ignoring the distraction. Air Vice Marshall Leigh-Mallory was not the only one itching for action the Polish Air Contingent were vocally airing their discontent to anyone who would listen. Sir Phillip had been asked by Sir Hugh to communicate with the Polish Government in exile, that the Polish Air Component was currently being kept as a reserve and would be duly committed to the battle when and where they were most needed.

 

[NOMISYRRUC]

...

10.07 Substitutions and preparing the bench.

On the morning of the fifteenth of August Sir Phillip was perusing a report from Sir Hugh Dowding that set out the current disposition of the Squadrons in Fighter Command. Reading this through, Sir Phillip had to keeps checking what had actually changed since the last Order of Battle had been issued to him on the seventh of July.

Senior Commanders​

Fighter Command, Strengths and Locations of Units by Sector as of 6pm on 14th August 1940​

Sector stations marked *

Summary of Squadrons by Type

​

When summarising the details, Sir Phillip noted that five squadrons had been moved from the southern Groups up to the north and fresh squadron had gone south to replace them.

607 Squadron moved from 10 Group to 13 Group

65 squadron moved from 11 Group to 13 Group.
79 squadron moved from 11 Group to 14 Group.
615 squadron moved from 11 Group to 14 Group.
610 squadron moved from 11 Group to 14 Group.
602 squadron moved from 13 Group to 11 Group.
3 squadron moved from 14 Group to 11 Group.
504 squadron moved from 14 Group to 11 Group.
603 squadron moved from 14 Group to 11 Group.
605 Squadron moved from 13 Group to 10 Group

He also noted that No 1 Squadron RCAF had become operational and had joined the Order of battle as had 310 Czech Squadron. Sir Phillip also noted that the new Czech squadron No 312 flying Reaper night fighters had been stationed at Church Fenton with No 54 OTU, to gain operational experience of their new aircraft and technicalities of their roll.

None of the moves surprised Sir Phillip as they had been discussed with Sir Hugh beforehand and no doubt as the battle in the south continued to escalate more squadrons would be rested and rebuilt as needed. The decision had been taken not to try and form any further new squadrons but to maintain the largest pool of replacement pilots as possible. Unless one or more of the major aircraft factories were damaged sufficiently to halt production the short term problem would not be the shortage of aircraft but the pilots to fly them. For the same reason the formation of Number Nine Group had proceeded no further than the designation of its intended headquarters at Barton Hall in Lancashire.

Apparently Trafford Leigh Mallory was badgering Sir Hugh to be transferred to another Group that was seeing more daily combat, currently Sir Hugh was quietly ignoring the distraction. Air Vice Marshall Leigh-Mallory was not the only one itching for action the Polish Air Contingent were vocally airing their discontent to anyone who would listen. Sir Phillip had been asked by Sir Hugh to communicate with the Polish Government in exile, that the Polish Air Component was currently being kept as a reserve and would be duly committed to the battle when and where they were most needed.

 

[pjmidd]

List of Squadrons and Operational Training Units

View attachment 444434

Should POC be PAC ie Polish Air Contingent in the table of squadrons?

 

[NOMISYRRUC]

Should POC be PAC ie Polish Air Contingent in the table of squadrons?

TBH no idea. I just copied what was in Post 1041.

 

[Paulo the Limey]

TBH no idea. I just copied what was in Post 1041.

Ah good idea, is that just an image of a table?

 

[sonofpegasus]

My Bad it is the Polish Air Contingent, or PAC for short. NOMISYRRUC, your skill at research and turning out tables leaves me speechless in awe. Yes of course in the world of the PAM Sir Phillip would be presented with wonderful tables and charts. The main changes from OTL are of course the fact that all frontline fighters in Fighter Command have at least two 20mm cannon. There is full PPI cover over England and Wales with no less than eight RDF equipped night fighter squadrons operational in August

 

[perfectgeneral]

Leigh-Mallory has the right attitude, but the wrong operational tactics. There is plenty of action for him out in Egypt. Or maybe he could pioneer long range escort fighter wings?

@NOMISYRRUC your wonderful table shows the Hurricane to be the type most represented in squadrons.
@sonofpegasus Odd that the Spitfire is the (only) type with two OTUs. Operational Training not Operational Conversion?

 

[sonofpegasus]

I have plans for Mallory and he does go East!

 

[NOMISYRRUC]

Operational Training not Operational Conversion?

It was Group Pool, then Operational Training Unit and in the late 1940s Operational Conversion Unit.

 

[perfectgeneral]

I have plans for Mallory and he does go East!

Rangoon or Hong Kong eh?

 

[sonofpegasus]

As in OTL,there are fewer OTU's than later in the war a most pilots received their final polish for combat at their assigned squadrons. This is changing. The Night fighters are showing how important OTU's are OCU will come into play when new types are introduced to replace existing aircraft. The extra Spitfire OTU is the dedicated PAC one. I hope that explains things. All that is buried in the story somewhere!

 

[sonofpegasus]

Due to real live intervening (funerals and family and business) I shall be of the forum for at least a week from early tomorrow. Do hope to get one more post before the hiatus and will pick up the thread as soon as I can after that. For all of you who have voted for this time line in the Turtledoves please except my deepest thanks.

 

[steamboy]

Sonofpegasus you don't need to appologise, RL always takes priority, you take care of yourself and your family and i'm sorry for your loss.

 

[sonofpegasus]

10.08. The strain mounts up and the battle widens.



Thursday,Fifteenth of August 1940.

Day decisive; heavy raids by all three Luftflotten, their greatest effort of the battle. Ninety Five German aircraft lost. Airfields main target.


Night, Little activity.


Weather, Ridge of high pressure over Britain. Fine, warm weather. Some cloud over Channel. (1)


With an established ridge of high pressure promising good flying weather, the Luftwaffe was set for it’s largest attacks so far in the campaign. The entire fighter force was committed to today’s operations to protect and escort the majority of the available bomber and dive bomber force participating in the attack. Once again, the tactic of employing widely dispersed attacks in an attempt to draw off the defending fighters was the order of the day. Believing that their estimates of damage inflicted on the RAF squadrons defending the southern sectors were accurate meant that there would not be enough fighters left for a comprehensive defence of Scotland and northern England. To exploit this perceived overstretch, Luftflotte 5 was committed to using the majority of its available force to attack the north east of England and Scotland. The whole of the German air force from Norway around to Brittany had been a hive of activity throughout the night to prepare as many aircraft as possible for this ‘Knockout Blow’.


For the RAF it was a relatively quiet start to the day with no early morning raids to intercept, just multiple reconnaissance flights to counter. All this changed around eleven o’clock when a series of what eventually totalled five attacks commenced trying to overstretch the defence. This kicked off with an attack by some forty Ju 87’s with a very heavy escort dashing across the channel to attack the two forward airfields at Hawkinge and Lympne. Despite No 54 Squadron bouncing the Ju 87’s by attacking out of the sun whilst No 501 squadron did their utmost to distract the considerable escort, the attack at Lympne was by all measures a success with major damage done to the hangers, operational building and cutting both the main power and water supplies. At Hawking though less damage was done though collateral damage included the main power transmission lines to the CH RDF stations at Rye and Dover as well as the CHL at Foreness. Though this should have knocked a considerable gap in the Chain Home network, the Coastal Defence radars at Dover and Folkestone were unaffected and provided low altitude cover whilst the GCI stations at Wartling and Willesborough could detect raids as far away as the French coast.


At Bentley Priory Sir Hugh Dowding and his staff watch the situation map with acute interest as there were continued plots in Eleven Groups area but no indication of a large force building up for a raid. As they were looking for the next attack just after twelve noon reports started to be received from the CH stations at Danby and Ottercops covering the north-east coast as well as Drone Hill covering southern Scotland. RDF detection conditions were good and the stations were picking up returns on a formation over one hundred miles out to the east of the firth of Forth, a quick check with the CH station at Douglass Wood just north of Dundee confirmed that they had no contact. Bearing and ranges from the other three station indicated that the raid was on a south westerly course and would probably make land fall near Blyth. Air Vice-Marshall Conningham from his headquarters at Newcastle confirmed that he would be sending up squadrons once the enemy were closer to the coast as at their current speed of advance they were still nearly an hour from making landfall. Sir Hugh reminded Conningham not to over commit resources to this current raid from Luftflotte Five based in Norway and Denmark, as that unit had sufficient resources to mount multiple raids. Sir Hugh confirmed that twelve group had been alerted to the possibility of the raid heading further south towards their northern sectors and also the Fourteen Group had been alerted to the possibility of the raid turning for the Firth of Forth and the Germans ability of striking at the Orkneys or Northern Scotland. Sir Hugh considered it important to convey the bigger picture to his Group Commanders whilst trying to avoid micro managing or second guessing them. With nearly an hour’s warning thirteen group controllers started to prepare their riposte. From Aklington both 54 and 72 squadrons in their Spitfire Mk II’s were scrambled, 54 squadron being ordered to orbit Tyneside and 72 squadron to orbit over the Farne Islands. 607 Squadron in their Defiants were scrambled next from Usworth and directed to orbit Sunderland, lastly from the south 219 squadron in their Spitfire MkII’s were scrambled and instructed to head towards Durham.


First contact with what had been advised as a raid of thirty plus bombers came as a bit of a rude shock to the commanding officer of 72 squadron bang on time as predicted by the controller he gained contact with the raid not to find thirty bombers but sixty five He 111’s from I and III/KG26 with an escort of thirty four Me 110’s from I/ZG76. Briefly informing control of the true size of the raid Squadron-Leader E. Graham called “Tally Ho” on the VHF radio and led two flights of his squadron into the mass of bombers whilst the third flight took on the Me110’s fighting at odds. The He 111 formation was split up with some jettisoned their bombloads and diving seawards towards their home bases as several of their number were sent plunging into the sea, meanwhile the Me110’s formed defensive circles. As 72 squadron concentrated on pinning the Me 110’s in their defensive circles the two elements of He 111’s came under further attack. The northern portion were intercepted by 54 squadron just south of Aklington and were roughly handled over the sea. The southern section of the He 111’s made landfall just south of Sunderland where they were initially intercepted by the Defiants of 607 squadron. With no escort to worry about, they proceeded to explosively dismantle the Heinkels with their four twenty millimetre cannons. The Heinkels dumped their bombs on the streets of Sunderland and dove for the perceived safety of the sea only to be pursued by the spitfires of 219 squadron arriving from the south. The most common cause of the RAF fighters breaking of the action was the emptying of their ammo bins. Not a single RAF fighter was lost in this action with only a handful receiving some damage. The Squadrons returned to their respected bases claiming dozens of bombers downed with many more damaged and a large handful of Me 110’s claimed by 72 squadron. Few of the downed aircraft had crashed on land so corroborating these claims would prove difficult.


Half an hour after the first reports of the raid approaching from Norway a second raid emanating from Demark was reported on a south westerly track towards Flamborough Head in Twelve Groups territory .Once again with almost an hour’s warning the controllers at Twelve Group headquarters had time to plan and set up their interceptions. Air Vice-Marshal Earnest Saul conferred briefly with both Park and Dowding as to how many of his squadrons he could commit towards the northern sectors whilst Eleven Group were still heavily engaged to the south. Subsequently Air Vice-Marshal Saul committed 249 Squadron from Church Fenton flying Hurricane MkIc’s , 616 squadron from Leconfield in Spitfire MkII’s , 222 squadron again in Hurricanes Mkic’s from Kirton-In-Lindsey with finally 611 Squadron flying spitfire MkII’s from Digby. This left Thirteen group with a squadron at Kirton-In-Lindsey and two at Digby in reserve.


As the Fifty Ju 88’s from I,II, and III/KG30 approached Flamborough Head they were first intercepted by 249 Squadron from Church Fenton, Meanwhile 616 squadron in their spitfires were climbing for height over their base at Leconfield. Upon being attacked by the Hurricanes of 249 squadron the Ju 88’s split up into eight separate groups with some heading north and the majority heading inland towards the RAF Bomber station at Driffield. Being just nine miles away with altitude in their favour the Spitfires of 616 squadron were ideally placed to intercept this attack. The other two squadrons from Kirton-In-Lindsey and Digby joined the fray just as the Ju 88’s lined up for their bomb runs over Dreffield. Meanwhile those aircraft from 249 squadron with sufficient fuel and ammunition remaining pursued the remains of the two groups of Ju 88’s that headed northwards towards Bridlington and Catterick. The Controllers at twelve group quickly alerted thirteen group who scrambled 41 squadron at Catterick to intercept. Sir Arthur Conningham later commented to Air Vice-Marshall Saul how much he appreciated Twelve Groups efforts to defend the No 4 Bomber group airfield at Driffield which he had commanded pre-war and also for the timely warning of the Ju88’s heading for Catterick.


At noon down in Eleven group Manston had been attacked again by a dozen Me 109’s causing sixteen casualties and destroying two spitfires with cannon and machinegun fire. Following this at three in the afternoon a combined force of Ju 87’s, Me 110’s and Me 109’s attacked the night fighter station at Martlesham Heath. The radar station at Bawdsey Manor had tracked the raid in and Twelve group were requested to help repel the raid and scrambled 242 squadron in their Hurricanes and 123 squadron in their Defiants from Coltishall to join 19 Squadrons Spitfire MkII’s in repelling the raid. The Spitfires were sent high to counter the Me 109’s whilst the Hurricanes and Defiants were tasked with intercepting the Me 110’s and Ju87’s before they bombed the airfield. The GCI stations at Foulness and Trimly Heath were both tracking the raids and the IFF returns of the RAF Fighters. It soon became apparent that 242 squadron were not following the controllers instructions, although their commanding officer was acknowledging them. Consequently whilst the Spitfires of 19 squadron tackled the Me 109’s the Defiants of 123 squadron faced the Me 110’s and the Ju 87’s. Despite their valiant efforts 123 squadron were unable to stop the majority of the Ju 87’s from completing their dive bombing, though they did cause much carnage amongst the Me110’s. Having swung round in a long climb to the south west to get ‘up sun of the hun’ 242 squadron arrived late and dove on the Ju 87’s as they clawed for height after their attack.


As all this was happening in the north of Eleven Group another major attack was being mounted on the south eastern sectors of the group. One force of around one hundred aircraft were approaching Deal whilst a second formation about half an hour behind then estimated at a further one hundred and fifty aircraft were plotted heading towards Folkestone. To counter this major raid Air Vice Marshall Park committed squadrons from all over the eastern sector of Twelve Group, 151 from North Weald, 32 from Biggin Hill, 64 from Kenley, 111 from Croydon, 1 from Northolt, 504 from Kenley and 602 from Hornchurch. Co ordinating seven squadrons and getting them to intercept two large formations of enemy aircraft approaching at varying heights was a herculean task and on this occasion whilst all seven squadron achieved intercepts and downed enemy aircraft they too took losses and the German bombers managed to hit important targets at Rochester where both the Short Brothers Aircraft factory was hit and the Pobjoy aero engine works damaged.


Though inconclusive raids were made on the RAF stations at, Foulness, Dover, Rye and Bawdsey. These were followed at five pm by a major raid by Luftflotte 3 involving some two hundred and fifty aircraft flying in two formations towards the Isle of Wight. Both eleven and ten group scrambled squadrons to meet this attack. 501 squadron at Middle wallop only just got airborne before the airfield was plastered by Ju 88’s and they chased and harried the surviving enemy aircraft as they raced for the coast. Whilst the raid had no less than eight squadrons from the two groups tasked with intercepting it. Eventually , the various elements of the attacking force was confronted in total by no less than eleven squadrons. The largest single engagement in the battle so far spread across two groups. The following squadrons were engaged in this confrontation some having barely had time to rearm and refuel from their last sortie, 32,43,11,601,60,609, 87, 152, 501, 238, and finally, though not officially operational at the time, No 1 Squadron RCAF took to the skies to defend their base at Middle wallop.


There was still more to come, even as the squadrons landed, some scattered far and wide, with empty tanks and ammo bins the enemy relentlessly came again. For at quarter past six another formation of over seventy aircraft was detected over Calais, with so many of his squadrons on the ground for a quick re-arm and refuel Kieth Park at Eleven Group had cast his net wide around his airfields to assemble a force to face this latest intrusion. Initially four squadrons from the airfields in the east of the Group were scrambled followed by four more and elements of a fifth from the central and western areas as they became available. The first intercept was by 501 squadron low on fuel having been engaged earlier but their spirited head on lunge into the enemy formation broke it up and disrupted the bombers’ attack. Both Kenley and Biggin Hill were the intended targets but they escaped attention and West Malling airfield in Kent was hit instead. Croydon was hit again and the aircraft and instrument factories of Rollison and Rewing were badly damaged. This was the first attack on Metropolitan London and was a presage of things to come.


Through the night the raids continued with some seventy bombers attacking targets from Southampton, to Swansea and Bristol in the west, Birmingham in the midlands with Boston, Kirton, Beverleyn and Great Yarmouth in the east being hit as well. The Night fighter force was yet again out like the bats chasing their nocturnal prey and duly taking their toll.


As the darkness of summer night deepened both sides started counting the cost and appraising the results as they saw them of the day’s operations.


(1) Daily summary quoted verbatim from the The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood and Derek Dempster

 

[perfectgeneral]

Good show!

Eleven squadrons at once, while the LW is raiding right around the eastern and southern sides of the country suggests that the RAF isn't as stretched as they expected. I forget, are the Defiant's cannons wing mounted in this?

 

[Colin Haggett]

242 Squadron - commanded by Douglas Bader?

 

[Ramontxo]

Please is there any single post with all the new aircrafts and their modifications?

 

[perfectgeneral]

Please is there any single post with all the new aircrafts and their modifications?

Sort of, Informational 8.9a

Well that answers my question about the Defiant cannons. Yup. Two in each wing, outside of the propeller disc. Those big wings could probably hold a load of fuel too, besides the armoured tank behind the pilot.

 

[Ramontxo]

thanks

 

[Schlock]

242 Squadron - commanded by Douglas Bader?

Whoever he is, 'removed for cause' does not look good on ones record.