"Who commanded the RAF ""Fighter Command"" during the 'Battle of Britain'?"
"the Nazi war-machine, fought with great distinction. The No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron for example was not just the highest scoring of the Hurricane squadrons during the Battle of Britain, but also had the highest ratio of enemy aircraft destroyed to their own losses. ""Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry,"" wrote Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, head of RAF Fighter Command, ""I hesitate to say that the outcome of the Battle (of Britain) would have been the same."" An element of the Italian Royal Air Force (""Regia Aeronautica"")"
"draw RAF Fighter Command into a battle of annihilation. Adolf Hitler and ""Reichsmarschall"" Hermann Göring, commander-in-chief of the ""Luftwaffe"", ordered the new policy on 6 September 1940. From 7 September 1940, London was systematically bombed by the ""Luftwaffe"" for 56 out of the following 57 days and nights. Most notable was a large daylight attack against London on 15 September. The ""Luftwaffe"" gradually decreased daylight operations in favour of night attacks to evade attack by the RAF, and the Blitz became a night bombing campaign after October 1940. The ""Luftwaffe"" attacked the main Atlantic sea port of Liverpool in the"
"RAF Fighter Command RAF Fighter Command was one of the commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War. It earned great fame during the Battle of Britain in 1940, when the Few held off the Luftwaffe attack on Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when it was disbanded and the RAF fighter force was split into two categories; defence and attack. The defensive force became Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB) and the offensive force became the RAF Second Tactical"
"entities. Consequently, in 1968, Fighter Command and Bomber Command were joined together to form Strike Command, both becoming groups within the new command. Coastal Command was disbanded and subsumed into the new Strike Command in November 1969. RAF Fighter Command RAF Fighter Command was one of the commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War. It earned great fame during the Battle of Britain in 1940, when the Few held off the Luftwaffe attack on Britain. The Command continued until 17 November"
"Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain (, literally ""The Air Battle for England"") was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) defended the United Kingdom (UK) against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force, the Luftwaffe. It has been described as the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces. The British officially recognise the battle's duration as being from 10 July until 31 October 1940, which overlaps the period of large-scale night attacks known as the Blitz, that lasted from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941. German historians"
"offensive became known as the Battle of Britain. In July 1940 Rödel was transferred to 4. ""Staffel"" (4th squadron) of JG 27 for the ""Kanalkampf"" phase of the battle. Röddel was appointed ""Staffelkapitän"" (Squadron Leader) of 4. ""Staffel"" on 6 September 1940. He replaced ""Oberleutnant"" Hermann Hollweg who took over 2. ""Staffel"" of ""Jagdgeschwader"" 2. On 11 August JG 27 formed part of large-scale fighter sweeps over England as Albert Kesselring, commander-in-chief ""Luftflotte"" 2 (Air Fleet 2) sought to draw up No. 12 Group RAF under Air Officer Commanding Keith Park. The German fighter wings were despatched far in front"
"Command (renamed back in October 1944) in the war occurred against the V-1 flying bomb during Operation Crossbow. RAF fighters also supported the strategic bombing of Operation Crossbow, such as with long-range intruder operations that attacked German airfields and aircraft (e.g., at take-off/landing) at the time the Luftwaffe fighters would be scrambled against RAF Bomber Command (see Operation Hydra). During 1939–45, RAF Fighter Command lost 3,690 killed, 1,215 wounded and 601 POW. 4,790 aircraft were lost. As a direct result of their efforts during the Battle of Britain the Observer Corps was granted the title Royal by King George VI"
"Aircraft of the Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain (German: ""Luftschlacht um England"") was an effort by the German Air Force (""Luftwaffe"") during the summer and autumn of 1940 to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom in preparation for the planned amphibious and airborne forces invasion of Britain by Operation Sea Lion. Neither the German leader Adolf Hitler nor his High Command of the Armed Forces (""Oberkommando der Wehrmacht"", or OKW) believed it was possible to carry out a successful amphibious assault on Britain until the RAF had been neutralised. Secondary objectives"
"Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, who led RAF Fighter Command in the Battle of Britain, later recalled: I must confess that I had been a little doubtful of the effect which their experience in their own countries and in France might have had upon the Polish and Czech pilots, but my doubts were soon laid to rest, because all three squadrons swung in the fight with a dash and enthusiasm which is beyond praise. They were inspired by a burning hatred for the Germans which made them very deadly opponents. From 1940 until 1942, 311 Squadron was part of a Bomber"
"(80%) of the total of 2,927 flyers involved, with 407 Britons killed from a total of 510 losses. The remainder were not British, many coming from parts of the British Empire (particularly New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and South Africa), as well as exiles from many conquered European nations, particularly from Poland and Czechoslovakia. Other countries supplying smaller numbers included Belgium, France, Ireland, and the US. Winston Churchill summed up the effect of the battle and the contribution of RAF Fighter Command, RAF Bomber Command, RAF Coastal Command and the Fleet Air Arm with the words, ""Never in the field of"
"cancelled. Books General Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain (, literally ""The Air Battle for England"") was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) defended the United Kingdom (UK) against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force, the Luftwaffe. It has been described as the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces. The British officially recognise the battle's duration as being from 10 July until 31 October 1940, which overlaps the period of large-scale night attacks known as the Blitz, that lasted from 7 September 1940 to 11 May"
"of the skies over Britain would be totally crucial to keeping German forces out of the country, this became known as The Battle of Britain. Hurricanes first arrived at Duxford in July with the formation of 310 Squadron, which consisted of Czechoslovakian pilots who had escaped from France. At the end of August Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, the commander of No. 12 Group, ordered the Hurricanes of 242 Squadron commanded by Douglas Bader to come down from RAF Coltishall to join 19 and 310 Squadrons which were on daily standby at Duxford. These units, led by Bader, became known as"
"for the award of a campaign medal Aircraft of the Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain (German: ""Luftschlacht um England"") was an effort by the German Air Force (""Luftwaffe"") during the summer and autumn of 1940 to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom in preparation for the planned amphibious and airborne forces invasion of Britain by Operation Sea Lion. Neither the German leader Adolf Hitler nor his High Command of the Armed Forces (""Oberkommando der Wehrmacht"", or OKW) believed it was possible to carry out a successful amphibious assault on Britain until"
"blow up the RAF Fighter Command control centre. When Enzo G. Castellari finished the film ""Kill Them All and Come Back Alone"", he asked the producers what their next film would be. They replied a war epic about the Battle of Britain with the Harry Saltzman version yet to be released. Enzo thought that was a great idea but the producers had their sights on Alberto De Martino directing. The producers stipulated that stock footage of the actual Battle of Britain needed to be used in the film and that it should be used in a split-screen method. They asked"
"611 Squadron RAF. No. 242 Squadron RAF’s leader, Wing Commander Douglas Bader led the assault with the 56 fighters. They were airborne at 11:22. The Dorniers were supported by German fighter aircraft that had been sent out in advance of the main strike. ""Jagdgeschwader 27"" (JG 27) and I./""Jagdgeschwader 52"" (JG 52) Bf 109s flew in toward London at , while ""Jagdgeschwader 53"" (JG 53) flew top cover over the bombers. Some 30 ""Jagdgeschwader 3"" (JG 3) flew close escort. The bombers were travelling slowly, forcing the fighters to lower their flaps to stay with the bombers, which made them"
"pilots such as the first RAF ace of WW2, Flying Officer Cobber Kain, Alan Deere, whose ""Nine Lives"" was one of the first post war accounts of combat, and leaders such as World War I ace, Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, who commanded 11 Group, responsible for the defence of London in the Battle of Britain, the air defence of Malta and in the closing stages of the war, the RAF in South East Asia. Through accident or design, several RAF units came to be mostly manned by RNZAF pilots (for example No. 243 Squadron RAF in Singapore, No."
"battle: one at Hawkinge in Kent and one at Stanmore in London, at the former RAF Bentley Priory. In 2015 the RAF created an online 'Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary Commemorative Mosaic' composed of pictures of ""the few"" – the pilots and aircrew who fought in the battle – and ""the many"" – 'the often unsung others whose contribution during the Battle of Britain was also vital to the RAF's victory in the skies above Britain', submitted by participants and their families. The battle was the subject of the 1969 film ""Battle of Britain"". The cast included Laurence Olivier as"
"RAF Strike Command The Royal Air Force's Strike Command was the military formation which controlled the majority of the United Kingdom's bomber and fighter aircraft from 1968 until 2007 when it merged with Personnel and Training Command to form the single Air Command. It latterly consisted of two formations – No. 1 Group RAF and No. 2 Group RAF. The last Commander-in-Chief was Air Chief Marshal Sir Joe French. Strike Command was formed on 30 April 1968 by the merger of Bomber Command and Fighter Command, which became No. 1 Group and No. 11 Group respectively. Signals Command was absorbed"
"at sea during the battle. No proper air-sea rescue service was formed until 1941. In the late 1930s, Fighter Command expected to face only bombers over Britain, not single-engined fighters. A series of ""Fighting Area Tactics"" were formulated and rigidly adhered to, involving a series of manoeuvres designed to concentrate a squadron's firepower to bring down bombers. RAF fighters flew in tight, v-shaped sections (""vics"") of three aircraft, with four such ""sections"" in tight formation. Only the squadron leader at the front was free to watch for the enemy; the other pilots had to concentrate on keeping station. Training also"
"been reassigned to the three ""Luftflotten"" engaged in the Battle of Britain. Some fighters were retained to provide air cover over Germany, however. Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring, OOB from 13 August 1940. Headquarters in Paris, France, under Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle. OOB from 13 August 1940. Headquarters in Stavanger, Norway, led by Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff. OOB from 13 August 1940. Headquarters in Berlin, Germany, led by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring. OOB from 13 August 1940. Luftwaffe Order of Battle August 1940 For its Battle of Britain campaign against Great Britain during World War II, the German Luftwaffe"
"Fighter Command Station covering the NE of England during World War II. Many Defiant and Spitfire Squadrons rested here for a short time during the Battle of Britain. The first pilot casualty during the Battle of Britain, when Sgt Ian Clenshaw flew a dawn patrol from here on 10 July 1940, and was killed in what is generally regarded as a disorientation accident. The airfield was home of Number 71 Squadron of the RAF's Fighter Command. 71 Squadron was composed of mostly Americans and was one of the ""Eagle Squadrons"" of American volunteers who fought in World War II prior"
"the Battle of Britain. Among others who achieved fighter ace status were Ken Mackenzie, ""Ginger"" Lacey, Stanisław Skalski, Robert Dafforn, Kenneth Lee. Lacey was one of the highest scoring pilots in the Battle of Britain. Squadron Leader Joseph Berry, DFC & 2 bars, was the top scoring V-1 (flying bomb) ace of the squadron, though he claimed only 10 of his 61 victories whilst flying 501 squadron In addition to these unmanned missiles he also shot down three enemy aircraft. The squadron was reformed on 10 May 1946 as an Auxiliary Air Force fighter squadron at RAF Filton. In February"
"half of British and Commonwealth aircrews, some 167,000 men in all. It was the second largest in Europe. The RAF also integrated Polish and other airmen who had escaped from Hitler's Europe. In Europe, the RAF was in operational control of Commonwealth aircrews and Commonwealth squadrons although these retained some degree of independence (such as the formation of No. 6 Group RCAF to put Canadian squadrons together in a nationally identifiable unit). The RAF had three major combat commands based in the United Kingdom: RAF Fighter Command charged with defence of the UK, RAF Bomber Command (formed 1936) which operated"
"over Japan on 30 April 1946. He returned to the UK in May 1946. He received a permanent commission in the rank of flight lieutenant on 8 December 1948 (seniority from 1 September 1945), and retired from the RAF on 5 March 1967 as a flight lieutenant; he retained the rank of squadron leader. After retirement, Lacey ran an air freight business and instructed at a flight school near Bridlington. He was an adviser to director Guy Hamilton on the set of his 1969 film ""Battle Of Britain"". Said Hamilton in an interview 30 years later ""I entrusted Ginger Lacey"
"Battle of Berlin (RAF campaign) The Battle of Berlin (November 1943 to March 1944) was a series of attacks on Berlin by RAF Bomber Command. Other German cities were attacked to keep German defences dispersed. The campaign was led by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, AOC-in-C of Bomber Command, who believed that ""We can wreck Berlin from end to end if the USAAF come in with us. It will cost us between 400 and 500 aircraft. It will cost Germany the war"". Harris could expect about 800 serviceable heavy bombers for each raid, equipped with new and sophisticated navigational"
"Anti-Aircraft Command Anti-Aircraft Command (AA Command, or ""Ack-Ack Command"") was a British Army command of the Second World War that controlled the Territorial Army anti-aircraft artillery and searchlight formations and units defending the United Kingdom. The formation of a Command-level body of anti-aircraft defences had been announced in 1938, but Anti-Aircraft Command was not formed until 1 April 1939 under General Sir Alan Brooke, who had been commander of Anti-Aircraft Corps. He then passed control to Sir Frederick Pile, who would remain in command until the end of the war. AA Command was under the operational direction of RAF Fighter"
"brigades and V Corps of Southern Command with three infantry divisions. In reserve were two more Corps under GHQ Home Forces; located south of London was the VII Corps with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, an armoured division and an independent armoured brigade, while north of London was IV Corps with an armoured division, infantry division and independent infantry brigade. The Battle of Britain began in early July 1940, with attacks on shipping and ports in the ""Kanalkampf"" which forced RAF Fighter Command into defensive action. In addition, wider raids gave aircrew experience of day and night navigation, and tested"
"RAF, who claimed 14 kills before his death in September 1940. No. 10 Squadron RAAF, a flying boat squadron was also based in Britain at the time, as part of Coastal Command. At the start of the war, the small Caribbean island of Barbados was a British crown colony. Aubrey ""Sinbad"" de Lisle Inniss (1916-2003) was the sole Barbadian to serve as a pilot during the Battle of Britain. Inniss was born in Barbados to a British family and joined the RAF in 1939. During the Battle, he flew a Bristol Blenheim IF night fighter with No. 236 Squadron RAF"
"regions. During the war, its primary mission became the organization and training of combat units prior to their deployment to the overseas combat air forces. Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Phillip L. Easton. The command directs all USAFE and AFAFRICA forces engaged in contingency and wartime operations in the United States European Command (EUCOM) and United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) areas of responsibility. It also has a unique mission as the U.S. military's primary liaison to the British government, which is conducted through the command's 3 AF-UK headquarters at RAF Mildenhall, England. As an integral part"
"Piper distributors. All were built by Piper. There was a Flitfire named for each of the 48 states in the union at that time. These airplanes were colloquially known as ""The Flitfire Brigade."" During the Battle of Britain (10 July - 31 October 1940) the Royal Air Force (RAF) suffered heavy casualties, losing 1,420 members: 520 in Fighter Command, 700 in Bomber Command and 200 in Coastal Command. The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (RAFBF), an independent charity established post World War I to support RAF casualties and their families, worked to provide welfare to the RAF and families who"
"five Spitfires in the Memorial Flight). As the Hurricane was the last production model of that type, it did not itself fly in the Battle. The Battle of Britain was considered officially by the RAF to have been fought between 10 July and 31 October 1940. The leading aces of the Battle of Britain (between 10 July and 31 October 1940) were: ""The Few"", a novel by Alex Kershaw, tells the stories of the men who flew in the Battle of Britain. , a Hollywood film similarly named ""The Few"" was in preparation for release in 2008, based on the"
"who disagreed with such views was Hugh Dowding, who led RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. Others included American Major Claire Chennault, who argued against the so-called ""Bomber Mafia"" at the Air Corps Tactical School, and Lieutenant Benjamin S. Kelsey, Fighter Projects Officer for the United States Army Air Corps, responsible for specifying American fighters that were capable of downing bombers. Post-war analysis of the strategic bombing during World War II indicated that Baldwin's statement was essentially correct in that bombers would get through, but at a cost in aircrew and aircraft. Using the Dowding system, fighters directed"
"air or on the ground. If the battle continued at this rate the Luftwaffe would wreck Fighter Command, but it would come close to wrecking itself in the process. Citations The Hardest Day The Hardest Day is a name given to a Second World War air battle fought during the Battle of Britain on 18 August 1940 between the German Luftwaffe and British Royal Air Force (RAF). By June 1940, the Allies had been defeated in Western Europe and Scandinavia. Britain rejected overtures for a negotiated peace. Consequently, Adolf Hitler issued the German armed forces (""Wehrmacht"") Directive No. 16 ordering"