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

Part One - What Didn't Change
  • Up to 1935-36 exactly the same as OTL as far as single-engine fighter, light bomber and army co-operation design was concerned. So:
    1. The Gladiator prototype still built and flown as OTL;
    2. Specification P.4/34 was the same as OTL, with the same aircraft being built to meet it;
    3. Specification F.5/34 was the same as OTL, with the same aircraft being built to meet it;
    4. Specification A.39/34 was the same as OTL, with the same aircraft being built to meet it;
    5. Specification F.9/35 was the same as OTL, with the same aircraft being built to meet it.
    However, there was a change in twin engine fighters with the issue of a specification in the 1934-35 financial year for a twin engine fighter powered by 2 Merlin or 2 Taurus engines to compliment the Hurricane and Spitfire. Prototypes were ordered from Bristol and Gloster.
     
    Part Two - What Did Change Before 1934
  • It was a different story with aircraft production and therefore the production capacity of the aircraft and aero engine factories on the eve of Rearmament and the size of their design departments.

    In 1923 the Cabinet approved an expansion scheme for a Home Defence Force of 594 aircraft in 52 squadrons plus 24 light bombers in 2 Emergency Squadrons to support the Expeditionary Force. The completion date was 31st March 1928. At that date there should have been 150 night bombers in 15 squadrons, 240 day bombers in 20 squadrons and 204 fighters in 17 squadrons in the Home Defence Force plus the 2 Emergency Squadrons.

    At 31st March 1928 there were actually 332 aircraft in 29 squadrons. These consisted of 80 night bombers in 8 squadrons, 108 day bombers in 9 squadrons and 144 fighters in 12 squadrons. The planned number of light bomber squadrons had been reduced from 22 to 20 because the 2 Emergency Squadrons would be withdrawn from the Home Defence Force instead of being in addition to it. I have not included the 2 skeleton light bomber squadrons at the A&AEE in these totals.

    At 31st March 1934 there were still only 39 squadrons or 75% of the force that should have existed 6 years earlier. The 39 squadrons consisted of 80 night bombers in 8 squadrons, 212 day bombers in 18 squadrons and 156 fighters in 13 squadrons. I have not included the 2 skeleton light bomber squadrons attached to the A&AEE or the squadron on loan to the Far East Command.

    ITTL the 1923-Scheme was completed in March 1928. Therefore the RAF had the Home Defence Force of 594 aircraft in 52 squadrons, plus the 2 Emergency squadrons throughout the period 1928-34. The Air Ministry had to buy more aircraft to keep the larger force up to strength.

    The RAF also maintained a bomber transport force of 50 aircraft in 5 squadrons rather than the OTL force of 24 aircraft in 2½ squadrons. The force of coastal reconnaissance flying boats and floatplanes was built up from 2 flights in 1923 to 14 squadrons in March 1934 in stead of the 7 squadrons of OTL. On top of the above there were the increases to the FAA described in the Fleet Air Arm 1923-39.

    More work brought greater profits for the airframe and engine manufacturers some of which was ploughed back into greater spending on R&D and maintaining larger design departments. "More men with drawing boards and slide rules," should have allowed the firms to design new aircraft faster and build the prototypes in less time.

    For example in the case of Supermarine, its main products before building the Spitfire were 83 Southampton (including 66 for the RAF), 14 Scapa and 17 Stranraer flying boats. ITTL it built 184 Southamptons (including 150 for the RAF), 28 Scapas and 34 Southamptons. That effectively doubled the income of the firm and enabled R.J Mitchell to employ more subordinate staff. Both the Supermarine Type 224 and 300 prototypes should have been completed and flown sooner. The extra factory space and workers required to build the extra flying boats would have helped Supermarine complete the first contract for 310 Spitfires placed in July 1936 by 31st March 1939 instead of 6 months later.

    Note that Supermarine built 184 Southamptons instead of 166 ITTL because another 18 were ordered from the firm instead of the Blackburn Iris and Perth.
     
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    Part Three - Expansion Scheme F
  • The Home Defence Fighter Force

    The TTL Expansion Scheme A still provided for a force of 336 fighters in 28 squadrons by 31st March 1939. 300 in 25 squadrons for Home Defence and 36 in 3 squadrons for the ACBEF.

    The TTL Expansion Scheme C still provided for 420 fighters in 35 squadrons. There were still 300 fighters in 25 squadrons for Home Defence, but the number provided for the ACBEF was increased to 120 in 10 squadrons. The completion date of Scheme C was 31st March 1937.

    The TTL Expansion Scheme F still provided for a fighter force at 420 aircraft by 31st March 1939. However instead of 35 squadrons of 12 there were 30 squadrons of 14. That is 21 for Home Defence and 9 for the ACBEF. It also provided for a massive increase reserves to 225% of the Initial Equipment (I.E.) of the squadrons. This included an Immediate Reserve (I.R.) of 50% of the I.E. attached to the squadrons so that they had enough serviceable aircraft to put up their entire first-line strength at any one time.

    IOTL the 310 Spitfires and 600 Hurricanes were ordered in June 1936 for delivery by 31st March 1939 to equip the 21 Home Defence squadrons. Both contracts were completed about 6 months late. ITTL the extra aircraft built by both firms until the middle of the 1930s helped them deliver the aircraft closer to schedule. Furthermore both companies completed the follow on contracts for 200 Spitfires and 400 Hurricanes September 1939 and October 1939 respectively.

    Fighters for the Air Component of the British Expeditionary Force

    The turret fighters being designed to Specification F.9/35 were to replace the Hawker Demon in the 9 ACBEF squadrons. At October 1936 the plan was to order 389 Hawker Hotspurs from Avro to equip these squadrons and provide the necessary reserves. Delivery was required by 31st March 1939.

    However, IOTL Avro's factories were full of Ansons and Blenheims so the production contract went to Boulton Paul by default and the first 87 aircraft were ordered in April 1937. Deliveries did not commence until August 1939 and the 87th aircraft wasn't delivered until May 1940. At 3rd September 1939 the RAF actually had 4 squadrons of Hurricanes allocated to the ACBEF and 5 fighter squadrons equipped with the Blenheim Mk IF pending the arrival of the Defiant.

    ITTL the Air Ministry changed its mind in the first half of 1936 and ordered 389 Hurricanes from Boulton Paul in June 1936. The first Boulton Paul built Hurricane was delivered in October 1938.

    Army Co-operation

    Scheme A left the home based army co-operation force at 60 aircraft in 5 squadrons. Scheme C increased it to 90 aircraft in 5 squadrons to be reorganised into 84 in 7 squadrons in wartime. Scheme F increased it to 132 aircraft in 11 squadrons.

    There a requirement for 20 army co-operation squadrons. That is one for each of the 17 infantry divisions (5 regular and 12 TA) 2 reconnaissance squadrons and a communications squadron. Because of the time it would take to mobilise the TA divisions it was possible to maintain only 7 Regular and 4 AuxAF squadrons in peace with the remainder formed on mobilisation. The peace force would consist of the 2 reconnaissance squadrons (both regular) and 9 army co-operation squadrons (5 regular and 4 AuxAF). IOTL the first 144 Lysanders were ordered on September 1936 and delivered between May 1938 and April 1939.

    In September 1939 No. 22 (Army Co-operation) Group, Fighter Command had 9 of the 11 squadrons that were required in peacetime. There were 2 reconnaissance squadrons equipped with the Blenheim Mk IV, 5 army co-operation squadrons equipped with the Lysander and 2 army co-operation squadrons equipped with the Hawker Hind. The 2 Hind squadrons were AuxAF units which converted to Lysanders in November 1939 and April 1940 respectively. These Blenheim squadrons were not the same as the 2 Emergency Squadrons previously referred to which were equipped with the Blenheim Mk I and were part of No. 6 Group, Bomber Command.

    However, by September 1936 the Air Ministry and War Office had changed their minds. They decided that the field army needed more fighter protection on the scale of 10 squadrons plus one additional squadron per infantry division. Therefore 144 Hurricanes were ordered from Westland in September 1936 and delivered between May 1938 and April 1939.

    Air Observation Post and Light Liaison

    IOTL the RAF took over 14 British Taylorcraft Plus C light aircraft for communications duties in September 1939 and in 1940 the British Army took over 8 Plus D for experiments for AOP experiments. No. 651 (AOP) Squadron was formed in July 1941.

    ITTL the Army purchased 8 Taylorcraft aircraft from the USA in 1937 for AOP trials and in the same year a bulk order was placed with British Taylorcraft aircraft that would equip the AOP flights which began forming in the summer of 1938. The required scale for the home army was one flight per infantry division, but only 11 were to be formed in peace with the balance being formed on mobilisation. As British Taylorcraft was not formed in 1938 IOTL some of the initial order would have been purchased from American Taylorcraft to speed up deliveries.

    Note

    ITTL 2 of the 14 TA infantry divisions were converted to AA divisions in the 1920s, which is why 12 were referred to instead of 14 in this part of the thread.
     
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    Part 4 - Gloster Aircraft Production 1923-39 IOTL
  • Gloster Production 1923-40

    381 aircraft were built 1923-31. However, 11 were built in 1930 and only 3 in 1931. Of the 381 aircraft 133 were Grebes, 96 were Gamecocks and 74 were Armstrong-Whitworth Siskins.

    No aircraft were built in 1932. Only 2 were built in 1933 and 11 were built in 1934. However, 141 were built in 1935 and 210 were built in 1936.

    The 364 aircraft built 1933-36 included 146 Hart derivatives built under sub-contract from the Firm's new owner the Hawker Siddeley Group. That is 25 Audaxes, 47 Hardys, 2 Hartebees and 72 Harts. 10 were built in 1934, 117 were built in 1935 and 18 were built in 1936.

    The rest of the aircraft built 1933-36 comprised the Gladiator prototype built in 1934 and 216 Gauntlets that is 24 in 1935 and 192 in 1936. The last of the 228 Gauntlets were built in 1937.

    Production in 1937 was 265 aircraft, 1938 fell to 169 aircraft, climbed in 1939 to 524 aircraft and in 1940 to 1,247 aircraft. This suggests that Gloster could have built at least 96 more aircraft in 1938.

    252 of the aircraft built in 1937 were Gladiators. Only 158 were built in 1938, but 320 were built in 1939 and the last 16 of the 746 production Gladiators were made in 1940.

    Gloster production of the Henley was 10 in 1938, 171 in 1939 and 19 in 1940. A total of 350 Henleys were ordered in the summer of 1936, but it was cut back to 200 aircraft in May 1937. They were delivered between November 1938 and September 1940.

    Gloster only built 32 Hurricanes in 1939 but produced a whopping 1,211 in 1940. Gloster built a grand total of 2,750 Hurricanes to 1942. The 500 Hurricanes were initially ordered to Contract No. 962371/38, but I don't have the date. The first Gloster Hurricane did not fly until after the outbreak of war and deliveries did not commence until November 1939.

    The other 4 aircraft built 1937-40 were the 2 F.5/34 and 2 F.9/37 prototypes.

    The Gladiator

    A total of 581 production Gladiators were ordered to Air Ministry contracts as follows:
    • 23 Gladiator Mk I to contract No. 419392/35 in July 1935 and delivered from 16/02/37 to 04/03/37
    • 180 Gladiator Mk I to Contract No. 442476/35 in September 1935and were delivered from April to February 1938
    • 28 Gladiator Mk I to Contract No. No. 704393/37 and delivered in September 1938
    • 50 Gladiator Mk II to Contract No. 704393/37 and delivered from December 1938 to February 1939
    • 300 Gladiator Mk II to Contract No. 952950/38 and delivered from March 1939 to April 1940.
    The gap between February 1938 and September 1938 could be because the firm was working on its Gladiator export contracts.

    Some of the contract numbers vary between sources and I have been unable to find the ordering dates for the last 3 batches. However, the suffix /37 denotes that Contract No. 704393/37 was placed in the 1937-38 financial year, so it was between 1st April 1937 and 31st April 1938. Similarly Contract No. 952950/38 must have been placed in the 1938-39 financial year so it must have been between 1st April 1938 and 31st March 1939

    That is 231 Gladiator Mk I and 350 Gladiator Mk II. However, 98 Gladiator Mk II aircraft were either built as or converted to Sea Gladiators, 6 were diverted to Norway and 15 were diverted to Portugal. Therefore 462 Gladiators were delivered to the RAF.

    186 new Gladiators exported before World War II. 165 were built to direct contracts and 21 came from Air Ministry Contract No. 952950/38 as follows:
    • 26 Latvia ordered 27/05/37 and delivered August to November 1937
    • 14 Lithuania ordered May 1937 and delivered October to November 1937
    • 12 Norway which ordered 6 in 1937 plus a licence, but this was changed in July 1938 when 6 Mk II aircraft were purchased from Gloster which were diverted from Air Ministry contracts.
    • 55 Sweden which ordered 37 in June 1937, which were delivered from June 1937 and 18 Mk II aircraft ordered in 1938
    • 22 Belgium which were ordered in October 1937 and delivered between September 1937 and May 1938
    • 36 China which were ordered in October 1937 and delivered 1937-38
    • 4 Ireland which were ordered in November 1937 and delivered in 1938
    • 2 Greece which were ordered in 1937 and delivered in 1938
    • 15 Gladiator Mk II to Portugal which were ordered in February 1939 but I don't have the delivery dates, but they were diverted from Air Ministry contracts.
    All of the above were Gladiator Mk I aircraft except where specifically stated.

    116 second-hand Gladiators which came from RAF stocks were exported as follows:
    • 55 Egypt from March 1939 taken from RAF Middle East stocks
    • 30 Finland from December 1939 to January 1940. These were given to Finland along with 12 Hurricanes and 25 Gauntlets
    • 6 Greece between December 1940 and March 1941
    • 14 Iraq of which 9 were delivered October 1940 to December 1942 and 5 in March 1944 from RAF Middle East stocks
    • 11 South Africa from March 1941. The South Africans also bought 4 Gauntlets in July 1940.
     
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    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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    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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