Taking A Closer Look At The Battle Of Britain (1940)
The Battle of Britain (1940)
The Battle of Britain was a combat of the Second World War, in which the British Air Force, the Royal Air Force (RAF), defended the Britain against the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe. The battle commenced on July 10, 1940 and ended on October 31, 1940. The battle was fought over southern England entirely in the air. The German’s aim for the battle was to gain air superiority over southern England and the English Channel by destroying the RAF and England’s aircraft industry. Britain’s aim for the battle was to destroy the incoming raids and hold off the Luftwaffe.
Figure 1: Map showing southern England and the Battle of Britain, 1940
As shown in figure 1 the German planes attacked southern England from occupied France.
In the Battle of Britain there were two major combatants. The first major combatant was Britain, the defending …show more content…
The radar allowed Britain to track incoming German warplanes and gave Fighter Commend, which was led by Sir Hugh Dowding, sufficient time to get airborne and attack the incoming planes. Britain’s defence network also included anti-aircraft guns, searchlights and barrage balloons.
Figure 2: Pilots scramble for their Hawker Hurricane fighters at an airfield in England to tackle the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.
The most famous aircrafts used in the Battle of Britain were the British Hawker Hurricane, the Super Marine Spitfire Mk I and the German Messerschmitt 109 E variant single-engine fighters. Although the Spitfire was more glamorous the Hurricanes were responsible for most of the German losses, especially during the early part of the battle. The turn-around time (re-arm and refuel) for the Spitfire was 26 minutes, whereas the Hurricane’s was 9 minutes, this greatly increased its effectiveness. Figure 2 shows Hawker Hurricane fighters lined up in preparation of a Luftwaffe
The Battle of Britain was a combat of the Second World War, in which the British Air Force, the Royal Air Force (RAF), defended the Britain against the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe. The battle commenced on July 10, 1940 and ended on October 31, 1940. The battle was fought over southern England entirely in the air. The German’s aim for the battle was to gain air superiority over southern England and the English Channel by destroying the RAF and England’s aircraft industry. Britain’s aim for the battle was to destroy the incoming raids and hold off the Luftwaffe.
Figure 1: Map showing southern England and the Battle of Britain, 1940
As shown in figure 1 the German planes attacked southern England from occupied France.
In the Battle of Britain there were two major combatants. The first major combatant was Britain, the defending …show more content…
The radar allowed Britain to track incoming German warplanes and gave Fighter Commend, which was led by Sir Hugh Dowding, sufficient time to get airborne and attack the incoming planes. Britain’s defence network also included anti-aircraft guns, searchlights and barrage balloons.
Figure 2: Pilots scramble for their Hawker Hurricane fighters at an airfield in England to tackle the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.
The most famous aircrafts used in the Battle of Britain were the British Hawker Hurricane, the Super Marine Spitfire Mk I and the German Messerschmitt 109 E variant single-engine fighters. Although the Spitfire was more glamorous the Hurricanes were responsible for most of the German losses, especially during the early part of the battle. The turn-around time (re-arm and refuel) for the Spitfire was 26 minutes, whereas the Hurricane’s was 9 minutes, this greatly increased its effectiveness. Figure 2 shows Hawker Hurricane fighters lined up in preparation of a Luftwaffe