The Hour of the Hurricane - An Imaginatively Titled Hawker Hurricane Thread

A Hurribomber could carry about the same bomb load as a Battle, Henley or Blenheim so might make production easier to just expand Hurricanes in lieu. Of course one can point out that the OTL Hurribomber was the MkII with more power and the others have better range but al least a Hurribomber can defend itself after dropping it's load.
 
Stick the Merlin VIII (same as used on the Fulmar) on the Hurribombers and low-altitude and lifting capability goes up vs. Merlin III-powered Hurricanes.
 
Part Five - Expansion Scheme F - The Metropolitan Air Force At 31st March 1939 as Planned at 12th October 1936 - Our Timeline
Home Defence Force
1,022 Bombers in 70 Squadrons (59 Regular and 11 Auxiliary)
240 Heavy Bombers in 20 squadrons of 12 aircraft (Nos. 7, 9, 10, 37, 38, 51, 58, 75, 76, 77, 78, 97, 99, 102, 115, 148, 149, 166, 214 and 215)​
3 Harrow in 3 squadrons​
9 Whitley in 9 squadrons​
8 Unspecified in 8 squadrons​
96 Large Medium Bombers in 8 squadrons of 12 aircraft (Nos. 139, 114, 144, 61, 44, 50, 113 and 211)​
4 Handley Page B.9/32​
4 Vickers B.9/32​
522 Small Medium Bombers in 29 Regular squadrons of 18 aircraft​
14 Blenheim squadrons (Nos. 12, 18, 21, 33, 34, 57, 88, 90, 101, 103, 107, 108, 110 and 142)​
15 Battle squadrons (Nos. 15, 35, 40, 49, 52, 62, 63, 82, 83, 98, 104, 105, 207, 218 and 226)​
132 Small Medium Bombers in 11 Auxiliary squadrons of 12 aircraft (Nos. 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 602, 605, 610, 611, 612 and 613)​
11 Battle squadrons​
42 Torpedo Bombers in 2 squadrons of 16 (Nos. 22 and 42)​
2 Bristol 152 or Blackburn squadrons​

420 Fighters in 30 squadrons (25 Regular and 5 Auxiliary)
294 Home Defence fighters in 21 squadrons of 14 aircraft (Nos. 1, 3, 17, 19, 25, 32, 43, 46, 54, 56, 65, 66, 72, 73, 74, 79, 85, 87, 111, 151 and 213)​
14 Hurricane squadrons​
7 Spitfire squadrons​
126 Air Component fighters in 9 squadrons of 14 aircraft (Nos. 23, 29, 41, 64, 600, 601, 604, 607 and 608)​
9 Hawker Hotspur squadrons (4 Regular and 5 Auxiliary)​

Total Home Defence Force 1,462 Aircraft in 100 Squadrons (84 Regular and 16 Auxiliary)

132 Army Co-operation Aircraft in 11 squadrons of 12 aircraft (7 Regular and 4 Auxiliary) (Nos. 2, 4, 13, 16, 26, 53, 59, 603, 609, 614 and 615)

6 Hector squadrons (2 Regular and 4 Auxiliary)​
5 Lysander squadrons​

162 General Reconnaissance Aircraft in 13 squadrons
126 G.R. landplanes in 7 squadrons of 18 aircraft (Nos. 48, 206, 217, 220, 224, 233 and 269)​
3 Bristol 149 squadrons​
4 Bristol 152 or Blackburn squadrons​
36 flying boats in 6 squadrons of 6 aircraft (Nos. 201, 204, 209, 210, 228 and 240)​
2 Short R.2/33 or Singapore squadrons​
2 London squadrons​
2 Stranraer squadrons​

Total Metropolitan Air Force 1,736 Aircraft in 124 Squadrons (104 Regular and 20 Auxiliary)

Source: National Archives File Air.20/67

Air 20-67 October 1936 Metropolitan Air Force.png
 
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Part Six - Expansion Scheme F - The Overseas Commands on 31st March 1939 as Planned at 12th October 1936 - Our Timeline
RAF Mediterranean 36 aircraft in 2 squadrons
No. 202 (G.R) Squadron, 12 Bristol 149 or 152 or Blackburn
No. 212 (Composite) Squadron, 24 aircraft in 4 flights
12 G.R. aircraft in 2 flights, Bristol 149 or T.B. type
6 T.B. aircraft in one flight, Bristol 152
6 spotter aircraft in one flight, Swordfish​
RAF Middle East 96 aircraft in 8 squadrons
In Egypt and the Sudan 84 aircraft in 7 squadrons
12 bomber-transport aircraft in one squadron (No. 216) Bristol C.26/31
60 G.P. Bombers in 5 squadrons
2 Wellesley (Nos. 6 and 14)
2 Bristol 152 (Nos 45 and 47)
1 Vincent (No. 150)​
12 army co-operation aircraft in one squadron (No. 208) Audax​
In Kenya 12 aircraft in one squadron
No. 223 (G.P. Bomber) Squadron, Wellesleys​
Iraq Command 60 aircraft in 5 squadrons
12 bomber-transports in one squadron, (No. 70) Bristol C.26/31
36 G.P. bombers in 3 squadrons
1 Hardy (No. 30)
2 Vincent (Nos.55 and 84)​
12 G.R. aircraft in one squadron (No. 203) 12 Bristol 149 or 152 or Blackburn​
Aden Command 24 aircraft in 2 squadrons
12 G.P. bombers in one squadron (No. 8) 12 Vincents
12 G.R. aircraft in one squadron (No. 229) 12 Bristol 149​
RAF Far East 140 aircraft in 13 squadrons and one flight
Ceylon 12 aircraft in one squadron
12 G.R. aircraft in one squadron (No. 273) Bristol 149​
Penang 12 aircraft in one squadron
12 G.R. aircraft in one squadron (No. 145) Bristol 149​
Singapore 68 aircraft in 6 squadrons and one flight
24 T.B. aircraft in 2 squadrons (Nos. 36 and 100) Bristol 152 or Blackburn
24 G.R. aircraft in 2 squadrons (Nos. 92 and 205) Bristol 149
12 G.P. aircraft in 2 squadrons (No. 221) Bristol 149 or T.B. type
4 F.B. aircraft in one squadron (No. 230) Singapore or R.2/33
4 spotter aircraft in a Volunteer unit equipped with the Audax​
Hong Kong 48 aircraft in 4 squadrons
24 T.B. aircraft in 2 squadrons (Nos. 106 and 185) Bristol 152 or Blackburn
12 G.P. aircraft in one squadron (No. 222) Bristol 149 or T.B. type
12 G.R. aircraft in one squadron (No. 85) Bristol 149 [Duplicating No. 85 (Fighter) Squadron in the Metropolitan Air Force]​
RAF India 96 aircraft in 8 squadrons
48 light bombers in 4 squadrons (Nos. 11, 27, 39 and 60)
2 Hart squadrons
2 Wellesley squadrons​
48 army co-operation aircraft in 4 squadrons (Nos. 5, 20, 28 and 31)
2 Audax squadrons
2 Wapiti squadrons​

Total 452 aircraft in 37 squadrons and one flight. However, consideration was being given to increasing the G.P. Bomber squadrons from 12 to 18 aircraft.

Source: National Archives File Air.20/67

However
  1. It does not include the 4 bomber-transports in the India Bomber-Transport Flight.
  2. Other versions of Scheme F have the spotters in Malta as an independent flight.
  3. Other versions of Scheme F have a spotter flight at Hong Kong.
  4. Other versions of Scheme F have different numbers of aircraft for some squadrons. What is usually quoted is 468 aircraft in 37 squadrons, but that includes 18 spotter aircraft in 3 independent flights and excludes the Bomber-Transport flight in India.
 
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Part Seven - AIRCRAFT REQUIREMENTS - SCHEME "F" REQUIRED BY 31.3.39. AND ORDERS DECIDED (D. of E. 12.10.36) - Our Timeline
Single Seat Fighters (900 required for 21 squadrons of which all were on requisition)
300 Spitfires required for 7 squadrons and 310 on requisition from Supermarine 08/05/36 - Requirement requisition (10 over provided)
600 Hurricanes required for 14 squadrons and 600 on requisition from Supermarine 08/05/36 - Requirements requisitioned
96 Gladiators required for 4 Dominion squadrons - carried over from Scheme C​
Two Seat Fighters
389 Hawker Hotspur required for 9 squadrons and 389 on requisition from Avro 08/05/36 - Requirements requisitioned​
Army Co-operation (370 to equip 13 squadrons of which 244 on requisition and 126 still required)
164 Hectors required for 7 squadrons (one regular, 4 auxiliary and 2 dominions) less 64 brought forward from Scheme C = 100 on requisition from Westland on 28/04/35 - Requirements requisitioned
186 Westland A.39/34 required for 4 squadrons of which 144 on requisition from Westland 16/06/36 - 42 still required
84 Blenheims required for 2 squadrons of which none on requisition - 84 still required​
Bomber Transports
80 Bristol C.26/31 required for 2 squadrons on requisition from Short Harland & Wolf 11/09/36 - Requirements requisitioned​
Heavy Bombers (512 required for 20 squadrons of which 240 on requisition and 272 still required)
102 Harrows required for 3 squadrons brought forward from Scheme C
306 Whitleys required for 9 squadrons less 66 brought forward from Scheme C = 240 on requisition from Armstrong Whitworth 24/04/36 - Requirements requisitioned
272 B.9/32 aircraft required for 8 squadrons - none on requisition - a further 272 required​
Medium Bombers (2,537 required for 50 squadrons of which all were on requisition)
1,491 Battles required for 26 squadrons (15 regular, 11 auxiliary and 2 dominion) less 128 brought forward from Scheme C = 1,363 - Requirements requisitioned
500 on requisition from Fairey 24/04/36
863 on requisition from Austin (Shadow) 30/06/36​
938 Blenheims required for 14 squadrons less 124 brought forward from Scheme C = 814 - Requirements requisitioned
434 Bristol on requisition 31/07/36
380 Rootes (Shadow) on requisition 31/07/36​
180 Handley Page B.9/32 required for 4 squadrons on requisition from Handley Page 27/07/36 - Requirements requisitioned
180 Vickers B.9/32 (Wellington) required for 4 squadrons on requisition from Vickers 27/07/36 - Requirements requisitioned​
General Purpose and Light bombers
159 Wellesley required for 5 squadrons (3 G.P. and 2 L.B.) less 79 brought forward from Scheme C = 80 on requisition from Vickers 26/06/36 - Requirements requisitioned​
General Reconnaissance, General Purpose and Torpedo Bomber (1,002 required for 24 1/3 squadrons of which 674 on requisition and 328 still required)
354 General Reconnaissance aircraft required to equip 9 squadrons (3 Main Force and 9 Overseas) - Requirements requisitioned
134 Bristol 149 (10/36) from Bristol on requisition 31/07/36
220 Bristol 149 (10/36) Rootes on requisition 31/07/36​
84 General Reconnaissance or General Purpose (in place of Fighter-Bomber) required for 2 1/3 squadrons - Type not decided
84 still required. To be selected from Bristol 149 or 152 or Blackburn in April 1937
564 Blackburns T.B.G.R. or Bristol 152 required to equip 13 squadrons (4 Main Force G.R., 2 Main Force T.B., 5 Overseas T.B. and 2 Overseas (G.P.) of which 320 on requisition and a further 244 required.
78 Bristol 152 on requisition 07/08/36
242 Blackburn-Boulton & Paul on requisition 16/09/36​
Flying Boats (32 required for 6 squadrons all of which were on requisition)
21 Short R.2/33 required to equip 2 squadrons of which 11on requisition from Short 02/06/36 and 10 on requisition from Short 01/10/36 - Requirement requisitioned - Requirements requisitioned
6 Stranraer required to provide the War Reserve and Maintenance Reserve for 2 squadrons on requisition from Supermarine 03/04/36
5 London required to provide the War Reserve and Maintenance Reserve for 2 squadrons on requisition from Saunders Roe 03/04/36​
708 Fleet Air Arm Aircraft all of which on requisition 06/06/36. (646 for the FAA, 97 for training units and 20 Swordfish for spotting)
190 Blackburn O.27/34 on requisition from Blackburn
15 Fairey Light Bombers on requisition from Fairey
200 Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance aircraft
50 Shark on requisition from Blackburn
150 Swordfish on requisition from Fairey
100 Fairey O.8/36 D.B.R. aircraft
135 Blackburn O.30/35 on requisition from Blackburn [later changed to 136 from Boulton Paul]
168 Walrus on requisition from Supermarine

The War training reserve has to be added. Provisional figure about 100. 100 D.B.R. (or T.S.R.) still required to be decided when designs are further advanced.​
Training Aircraft (Peace Establishment)
250 Single-Engine trainers (De Havilland T.6/36) on requisition from De Havilland 28/06/36
136 Twin-Engine trainer (Airspeed Envoy) on requisition from Airspeed 15/07/36
250 Armament trainers (Hawker P.4/34), but 400 aircraft on requisition from Gloster 01/07/36 - 150 in excess of requirements
90 Elementary trainers (Miles Hawk) on requisition from Phillips & Powis 01/10/36
45 Communications aircraft (Miles Night Hawk) on requisition, but the manufacturer and date of requisition were not given.​

Total 771 aircraft required but 921 on requisition (150 in excess or requirements). However, a large part of the War Training Reserve has to be added.​

SUB TOTAL 7,481 aircraft required of which 6,815 on requisition (including 160 over requisitioned) leaving 826 to be requisitioned for service.

War Training Reserve, probably 2,100 aircraft as follows:

450 Elementary trainers
250 Single-Engine Service trainers
1,300 Twin-Engine Trainers​

However, that adds up to 2,000 aircraft, not 2,100 aircraft. The difference is the 100 F.A.A. War Training Reserve aircraft.

GRAND TOTAL 9,581 aircraft, which after the 160 over-requisitioned aircraft are added equals 9,741 aircraft.


The operational aircraft would equip 154 1/3 squadrons as follows:
124 Main Force (i.e. the Metropolitan Air Force)
20 1/3 Overseas
2 India
8 Dominions​

However, the same document said that the Overseas Commands would have 29 1/3 squadrons and India 8 squadrons. The balance of 15 squadrons were to be equipped with older aircraft.

Source: National Archives File Air.20/67

Completed 17:14 GMT 09/03/17

Air 20-67 12.10.36.png
 
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The source I am using often allocates a few of the aircraft to D.T.D. & D. of T.

D. of T. probably means Director of Training.

Does anybody know what D.T.D. is short for?
 
Hawkers offered the Air Ministry a Griffon Hurricane all drawn up so it could later go on to carry even larger bomb load. This could leave the Hurricane production lines covering the tactical strike role at ground level and Spitfire factories covering the high level fighter role leaving all that Typhoon/Tempest/Fury work not required and the Sabre resources also not being required.
 
Hawkers offered the Air Ministry a Griffon Hurricane all drawn up so it could later go on to carry even larger bomb load. This could leave the Hurricane production lines covering the tactical strike role at ground level and Spitfire factories covering the high level fighter role leaving all that Typhoon/Tempest/Fury work not required and the Sabre resources also not being required.
Perhaps, but I'm not going to go that far.

It's a build more Hurricanes instead of other OTL aircraft thread rather than a build a better Hurricane thread.

And from Expansion Scheme A onwards it's a keep expenditure as close to OTL as possible thread.
 
Spitfire production is delayed by tooling problems. Supermarine is told to concentrate on building thousands of flying boats.
No.

The opposite. Supermarine built twice as many flying boats from the Southampton to Stranraer. Production of the Walrus was transferred to Saunders Roe in 1936.

As a result of:
  • having a factory capable of building twice as many aircraft in June 1936 when the first 310 Spitfires were ordered Supermarine. And:
  • not having the distraction of Walruses to build
Supermarine completes the contract in March 1939 (slightly ahead of schedule) instead of early September 1939. It also completes the second contract for 200 Spitfires between March 1939 and September 1939. However, production of Spitfires at Castle Bromwich was as OTL.
Meanwhile Canadian Car and Factory becomes a Hawker shadow factory earlier than OTL. Pretty quickly CCF concentrates on cannon-armed Hurricanes.
No it doesn't. Although the RCAF will have 2 or 3 Hurricane squadrons in the Battle of Britain instead of one Hurricane and one or two Lysander squadrons.
Since this POD has America remaining neutral longer, American factories try harder to sell sub-assemblies to Canadian factories that are working all-out. CCF partners with North American Aviation to buy stamped sheet aluminum ribs instead of the labour-intensive British-pattern ribs made of dozens of small pieces of aluminum riveted together. NAA's massive sheet metal presses also supply larger pieces like cowlings, wing tips, etc. Next thing you know, NAA is selling (90% complete) tail kits to CCF. NAA finds ways to simplify production while still bolting redesigned components to original wing-root fittings. The Hurricanes' tubular fuselage allows introduction of a variety of minor modifications one-at-a-time. Eventually bored NAA engineers offer Meredith radiators, laminar wings, etc. so that later versions of CCF Hurricanes look like smaller versions of NAA P-51 Mustangs with thin, laminar wings, precise fit and finish, Meredith radiators, bubble canopies, etc.
I never wrote that America remained neutral longer. The chain of events that led up to Pearl Harbour and Germany declaring war on America (not the other way around) are unaffected by what I'm doing.
 
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Parts 5, 6 and 7 are complete and should now be de-bugged.

I haven't been able to find the correct number for the squadron in Hong Kong. However, I did discover that Scheme M has a pair of No. 95 Squadrons (one Bomber Command and one Middle East) and a pair of No. 96 Squadrons (one Bomber Command and one Middle East) trying to work it out.

In tribute to Eric Morcambe future parts of the story will be the right notes, but not necessarily in the correct order.
 
Part Eight - The RAF at 31st March 1934
WORK IN PROGRESS

Finance





Personnel



The Order of Battle
The Metropolitan Air Force


There were a grand total of 548 aircraft in 50 squadrons plus No. 24 (Communications) Squadron. Except that 2 squadrons existed on a skeleton basis and one flying boat squadron was under strength. There were 3 commands the Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB), the Coastal Area and the Inland Area plus the RAF Cranwell and RAF Halton which reported directly to the Air Ministry.

The Air Defence of Great Britain Command controlled the Home Defence Force. After the 2 skeleton squadrons attached to the A&AEE were deducted it had a nominal strength of 448 aircraft in 39 squadrons. It should have had 594 aircraft in 52 squadrons plus 24 light bombers in 2 Emergency Squadrons which provided part of the Air Component of the Expeditionary Force. What was known as the 1923-Scheme was originally planned for completion in March 1928 but under the current plan it was not to be completed until March 1938.

There should have been 3 Bombing Areas and No. 1 (Air Defence) Group. However, only 2 the Central and Western existed. They were formed by splitting the Wessex Bombing Area on 01/10/33. There should have been 390 aircraft in 39 squadrons (26 regular, 5 Special Reserve and 8 Auxiliary Air Force squadrons) plus the emergency squadrons. There were actually 292 aircraft in 26 squadrons (13 regular, 5 S.R. and 8 Auxiliary).

There should have been 150 heavy bombers in 15 squadrons (12 regular and 3 S.R.). There were actually 80 in 8 squadrons (5 regular and 3 S.R.). There were was one Heyford, one Hinaidi and 6 Virginia squadrons.

There should have been 240 day bombers in 20 squadrons (10 regular, 2 S.R. and 8 AuxAF) plus the 2 emergency squadrons. There were actually 212 in 18 squadrons (8 regular, 2 S.R. and 8 Auxiliary) including the 2 emergency squadrons. There were one Gordon, 8 Hart, one Horsley, one Sidestrand, one Wallace and 4 Wapiti day bomber squadrons. Both emergency squadrons were equipped with the Fairey Gordon. The sole two-engine day bomber squadron only had 8 aircraft in 2 flights of 4 instead of the usual 12 aircraft in 3 flights of 4.

Because half of the 26 existing squadrons were reserve units which would take time to work up only the other 13 squadrons would be immediately available in an emergency. If the 2 Emergency Squadrons had to go overseas to support the Expeditionary Force only 6 regular day bomber squadrons would be left for Home Defence.

Under the Fighting Area were 156 fighters in 13 squadrons (9 Bulldog, one Demon and 3 Fury Mk I). Under the 1923 Scheme there should have been 204 fighters in 17 squadrons including 3 for the Air Component. This meant that if the Expeditionary Force had to go overseas only 10 squadrons would be left at home instead of 14. The anti-aircraft guns and searchlights that complimented the fighters were belonged to the Air Defence Troops a command of the British Army. It had not reached the strength planned for March 1928 either and in common with the RAF it was not planned to be reached until March 1938.

The Coastal Area had 4 flying boat squadrons. 3 of them were equipped with the Supermarine Southampton. The other one was equipped with the Blackburn Iris/Perth and because it was built in small numbers this squadron only had 3 aircraft instead of the normal 4.

The Inland Area had Nos. 21 (Training), 22 (Army Co-operation) and 23 (Training) Groups. Under No. 21 Group was the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment with the 2 day bomber squadrons that existed on a skeleton basis. No. 22 Group had 5 army co-operation squadrons of which one had the Atlas and 4 had the Audax.

The Overseas Commands

The overseas commands had 272 aircraft in 24½ squadrons. There were 24 bomber-transports in 2½ squadrons, 144 day bombers in 12 squadrons, 60 army co-operation aircraft in 5 squadrons, 24 torpedo-bombers in 2 squadrons and 24 coastal reconnaissance aircraft in 3 squadrons.

RAF Mediterranean had 12 Fairey IIIF floatplanes in one coastal reconnaissance squadron instead of the normal 4 flying boats.

RAF Middle East had 70 aircraft in 6 squadrons in Egypt, Palestine and the Sudan. There were 12 Vickers Victorias in one bomber-transport squadron. But the bulk of its strength consisted of 48 day bombers in 4 squadrons (one Fairey IIIF and 3 Gordon) including one in Palestine and one in the Sudan. Finally there were 12 Atlas army co-operation aircraft in one squadron.

The Iraq Command had 52 aircraft in 5 squadrons. There were 36 Wapiti day bombers in 3 squadrons, 10 Victoria bomber-transports in one squadron and 4 Rangoon flying boats in one coastal reconnaissance squadron. The latter was to be sent to Singapore in the event of a war with Japan.

The Aden Command had 12 Fairey IIIF day bombers in one squadron.

RAF India had 100 aircraft in 8½ squadrons. Sub-commands consisted of No. 1 (Indian) Group and Nos. 1, 2 and 3 (Indian) Wings. There were 4 Victorias in one flight, 48 day bombers in 4 squadrons (2 Hart and 2 Wapiti) and 48 Wapiti army co-operation aircraft in 4 squadrons.

RAF Far East's area or responsibility consisted of Ceylon and Hong Kong as well as the Malay peninsular (and Burma too after it was separated from India), but its 28 aircraft in 3 squadrons were all at Singapore. There were 24 torpedo-bombers in 2 squadrons (one Horsley and one Vildebeest) and 4 Southampton flying boats in one coastal reconnaissance squadron.

The Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force

I'm counting the strength of the FAA as 162 aircraft in the equivalent of 15 squadrons. However, some official documents only count 159. There were 36 fleet fighters in 4 squadrons of which 2 were at half-strength. There were 36 fleet torpedo aircraft in 3 squadrons. There were 54 fleet spotter reconnaissance aircraft in 5 squadrons 2 of which had 9 aircraft each instead of the normal 12. Finally there were 36 catapult aircraft in 6 flights operating from capital ships and cruisers. I don't know what the equipment of the FAA was at this time.

Squadrons to be formed during the 1934-35 Financial Year

This brought the total strength of the RAF proper to 820 first-aircraft in 74½ squadrons. Adding the FAA increased the total to 982 aircraft in the equivalent of 89½ squadrons.

The programme for 1934-35 was for the formation of the equivalent of 6 squadrons.
  1. 2 squadrons (one day bomber and one fighter) would be formed for Home Defence leaving the ADGB 8 squadrons of the 1923 Scheme outstanding.
  2. One coastal reconnaissance squadron was to be formed on 4 flying boats for RAF Far East.
  3. The 2 Home Defence Squadrons incorporated in the A&AEE were to be reconstituted on an effective basis. In plain English that meant that the 2 existing squadrons would be renamed while 2 new day bomber squadrons would take their numbers.
  4. 2 FAA flights would be formed to bring 2 of the existing squadrons up to full-strength.
  5. The twin-engine day bomber squadron was to be increased from 8 to 12 aircraft.
  6. The coastal reconnaissance squadrons in the Coastal Area were to be brought up to full-strength.
As part of Expansion Scheme F (approved by the Cabinet 18/07/34) 3 Auxiliary day bomber squadrons were transferred to the Fighting Area and converted to fighter squadrons. One day bomber squadron was converted to a torpedo bomber squadron and transferred to the Coastal Area (but it was still counted as part of the Home Defence Force). This reduced the day bomber force from 212 aircraft in 18 squadrons at the end of March 1934 to 204 aircraft in 17 squadrons a year later.

The strength of the RAF proper at 31/03/35 was 852 aircraft in 77½ squadrons of which 576 aircraft in 52 squadrons were in the Metropolitan Air Force and 276 aircraft in 25½ squadrons were in the overseas commands. At the same date the FAA had 174 aircraft in the equivalent of 15 squadrons. The grand total was 1,026 aircraft in the equivalent of 92½ squadrons.

The Royal Air Force Compared to France and Italy

Although that looks impressive the RAF was a long way behind the French Armée de l' Air and Italian Regia Aeronautica.

According to Green and Fricker in Air Forces of the World the Aviation Militaire (the French equivalent of the Royal Flying Corps) had a first-line strength in excess of 1,500 machines in the early 1920s. It did not become the Armée de l' Air until 2nd July 1934. Unfortunately they don't give its strength in the first half of the 1930s but it would have been at least the same as the early 1920s.

The French equivalent of the RNAS the Aéronatique Navale (usually abbreviated to Aeronavale) had 11 squadrons in its equivalent to the RAF Coastal Area, but it appears that there were no squadrons overseas. Sea based naval aviation consisted of 3 squadrons on the aircraft carrier Bearn and 20 torpedo carrying seaplanes aboard the Commandant Teste. This is about the strength that would have existed in March 1934 because Green and Fricker say there was little expansion during the next few years.

According to the same source the Regia Aeronautica had grown to 108 squadrons by 1933 and that expansion continued steadily thereafter. The squadrons in 1933 consisted of 37 fighter, 34 bomber and 37 reconnaissance and observation squadrons (the latter including naval reconnaissance squadrons). The first-line strength exceeded 1,200 aircraft.

Furthermore the RAF was a "Shop Window" air force because it did not have the reserves of equipment and personnel required to fight a campaign against another great power for more than a few weeks. For example the Home Defence Force required a reserve of 100% in airframes and 150% in engines. These were needed to replace losses while the aircraft industry was put on a war footing. All that existed was the Immediate Reserve set at 25% of the nominal first-line strength of the squadrons. Similarly there were insufficient reserves of aircrew to cover "wastage" while the training organisation was put on a war footing.

Aircraft on Charge

I don't have the figures for March 1934, but the later editions of Aircraft of the Royal Air Force Since 1918 by Owen Thetford has them for February 1935 when the RAF had a first-line strength of 1,020 (including 174 FAA) which was only 38 more than a year earlier (982 including 162 FAA).

There was a grand total of 2,942 aircraft (2,513 RAF proper and 429 FAA).

The 2,513 aircraft in the RAF proper consisted of:
  • 183 night bombers and bomber-transports (19 Handley Page Hianidi, 32 Handley Page Heyford, 61 Vickers Virginia and 71 Vickers Valentia)
  • 1,412 day bombers, torpedo-bombers and army co-operation aircraft (185 AW Atlas Trainer, 13 Boulton Paul Overstrand, 49 Fairey IIIF, 242 Fairey Gordon , 162 Hawker Audax, 333 Hawker Hart, 33 Hawker Hart Trainer, 21 Hawker Hardy, 21 Hawker Horsley, 21 Vickers Vincent, 53 Westland Wallace, 203 Westland Wapiti, 76 Vickers Vildebeest
  • 399 fighters (10 AW Siskin, 9 AW Siskin DC, 178 Bristol Bulldog, 45 Bristol Bulldog TM, 5 Gloster Gauntlet, 76 Hawker Demon and 76 Hawker Fury)
  • 466 trainers (113 Avro 504N, 273 Avro Tutor and 80 De Havilland Gipsy Moth)
  • 53 flying boats (16 Saro Cloud, 6 Short Rangoon, 4 Short Singapore and 27 Supermarine Southampton)
The 429 FAA aircraft were made up of:
  • 123 Fleet Fighters (52 Hawker Nimrod and 71 Hawker Osprey)
  • 82 Fleet Forpedo bombers (78 Blackburn Baffin and 4 Blackburn Ripon
  • 220 Spotter Reconnaissance aircraft (145 Fairey IIIF and 75 Fairey Seal)
  • 4 Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance (4 Blackburn Shark)
 
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At the time the axe fell, there were 3 Vildebeests at Kai Tak, representing a detachment from 100 and 36 sqn, based in Singapore. Also 2 FAA Walrus.
And?

You're jumping the gun again.

By the time Scheme M was approved in November 1938 the plan for Hong Kong had been reduced to one squadron of 14 amphibians in the G.R. role.

In this timeline its the Geddes Axe that makes the difference.
 
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