As the Wehrmacht stopped to regain its breath at the end of June 1940, the world was in shock, especially the Germans. The unbelievable success of Case Yellow (Fall Gelb) had taken everyone by surprise. It had achieved in weeks what many of their fathers, or younger selves, had failed to do in over 4 years just two and half decades before. Hitler had just become a superstar, and the moment for miracles seemed close at hand.
Having knocked Belgium, the Netherlands, and even France out of the fight, could Britain really be next?
Those in the know were well aware that Britain’s power didn’t lie in its recently evacuated army, nor in its independent air force. No, to take Britain or bring her to the peace table, Germany would have to neutralize the Royal Navy. While the Kriegsmarine may not have the strength to achieve this alone, coupled with the apparent might of the Luftwaffe, could it be done over the next few months?
If they had a hope, first, they would have to drive the Royal Air Force from the skies. Given the clearly superior performance of German forces, this would be a piece of strudel, or would it?
What did the Luftwaffe really face and how did the Battle of Britain play out on the scoreboard that summer?
The Luftwaffe Vs the Royal Air Force
The Aircraft
Facing off across the English channel, which is just 21 miles at its narrowest point, were two air forces gearing up for a fight.
The two bodies of men and machines consisted on one side largely of the newly victorious Germans, later to be joined in a very limited way by their Italian ally. On the other side was Britain supported by both her allies and volunteers from across the globe (Get Full list of nations pilots came from) As can be seen, this was a very multinational force.
The Germans would attack Britain with its bomber force made up of 3 main medium-range variants, mainly: the Donier Do 17, Heinkel HE 111, and Junkers Ju 88. The famous Stuka JU 87 dive bomber would also see action over England that summer.
These more vulnerable aircraft would be protected by the Messerschmitt 109 single-engine fighter, and less numerous twin-engined Messerschmitt 110. The latter was a real favourite of the head of the air force, Hermann Goering.
In addition to the Germans, their ally Italy would also send a small contingent of Fiat BR.20 bombers, Fiat G.50s, and CR 42 bi-plane fighters. However, they didn’t join the fight until the closing days of the officially recognized battle.
Royal Air Force
Defending British skies was Fighter Command, with its Hawker Hurricanes and the less numerous Supermarine Spitfires.
RAF Order of Battle – Hurricane vs Spitfire
| Date | Group | Hurricane | Spitfire | Total |
| 14 July 1940 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 14 July 1940 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 19 |
| 14 July 1940 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| 14 July 1940 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Totals | 25 | 19 | 44 | |
| 1 September 1940 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 1 September 1940 | 11 | 14 | 6 | 20 |
| 1 September 1940 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| 1 September 1940 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| Totals | 33 | 18 | 51 | |
| 30 September 1940 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 30 September 1940 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 20 |
| 30 September 1940 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| 30 September 1940 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| Totals | 34 | 19 | 53 | |
| 28 October 1940 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 28 October 1940 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 21 |
| 28 October 1940 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| 28 October 1940 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| Totals | 33 | 20 | 53 |
These single-engine interceptors would be supported by a few squadrons of Bristol Blenheim fighters and Defiants, as well as the Bristol Beaufighter in the night fighter role. A single RAF squadron, No.247, of Gloster Gladiators, was also used to defend Plymouth while a Fleet Air Arm Squadron, 804 flew defensive patrols over Scapa Flow.
German aircraft would also be faced by approximately 695 heavy antiaircraft guns and 253 light guns, which was a lot less than the 2,232 heavy and 1,200 light guns thought required. However, this force would claim approximately 300 aircraft were shot down by the end of the summer. I wish I could say they were all German planes. (The many not the few Richard North)
The number of aircraft available
In terms of the number of the aircraft committed by each side, coming up with definitive figures seems to have stumped successive historians, but here is the best estimation of the operational strength of the RAF and Luftwaffe in the Summer of 1940.
| Aircraft | Total | Servicable | |
| Luftflotte 2 & 3 | BF 109 | 809 | 656 |
| Luftflotte 2 & 4 | BF110 | 246 | 168 |
| Luftflotte 2 & 5 | Ju 87 | 316 | 248 |
| Luftflotte 2 & 6 | Ju 88 | 1131 | 769 |
| Luftflotte 2 & 7 | He 111 | ||
| Luftflotte 2 & 8 | Do 17 | ||
| Luftflotte 2 & 9 | Long range recon | 67 | 48 |
| Luftflotte 2 & 10 | Short Range Recon | 82 | 46 |
| Luftflotte 5 | BF 109 | ||
| Luftflotte 6 | BF110 | 34 | 32 |
| Luftflotte 7 | Ju 87 | ||
| Luftflotte 8 | Ju 88 | 129 | 95 |
| Luftflotte 9 | He 111 | ||
| Luftflotte 10 | Do 17 | ||
| Luftflotte 11 | Long range recon | 67 | 48 |
| Luftflotte 12 | Short Range Recon | 28 | 15 |
| 2909 | 2125 |
Len Deighton – Battle Of Britain
Making ready for the opening phase of the battle, known as Kanalkampf, were 1,576 German bombers and 1,089 fighters, of which 1,968 were operational (Len Deighton). This represented about 80% of the total Luftwaffe force.
1st July 1940
| Hurricanes | 354 |
| Spitfires | 200 |
| Defiants | 26 |
| Blenheims | 63 |
| TOTAL | 643 |
1st September 1940
| Hurricane | 351 |
| Spitfire | 207 |
| Defiants | 17 |
| Blenheims | 77 |
| Total | 652 |
Facing them were as many as 768 Spitfires and Hurricanes, of which 643 were serviceable (Bungay). In addition, there were just over 60 Blenheims and 20 Defiants available. By the middle of the battle this had increased to 715 operational Hurricanes and Spitfires, with 424 in storage ready to resupply RAF squadrons.
Total Royal Air Force Strength pre-Battle of Britain
| Total | |||
| Bombers | Battle | 529 | |
| Blenheim | 338 | ||
| Hampden | 169 | ||
| Wellington | 160 | ||
| Whitley | 140 | ||
| 1336 | |||
| Fighters | Hurricane | 347 | |
| Spitfire | 187 | ||
| Blenheim | 111 | ||
| Gladiator | 76 | ||
| Gauntlets | 26 | ||
| 747 | |||
| Coastal General Reconnaissance | Anson | 301 | |
| Hudson | 53 | ||
| Vildebeest | 30 | ||
| Sunderland | 27 | ||
| London | 17 | ||
| Stranraers | 9 | ||
| 437 | |||
| Army Cooperation | Lysander | 95 | |
| Hind | 46 | ||
| Hector | 9 | ||
| 150 | |||
| Total | 2670 |
On paper, In total, the entire RAF including fighter, bomber, and coastal command could muster around 2670 aircraft.
Pilots and aircrew
| Week ending | Fully Operational Pilots |
| 1 June 1940 | 906 |
| 1 August 1940 | 869 |
| 1 September 1940 | 735 |
| 1 September 1940 | 673 |
Getting ready to fly their aircraft across the channel were over a thousand German bomber crews and at least 906 German fighter pilots ready for operations on 10th July 1940, compared to 1,259 RAF pilots (Bungay).
As the battle progressed between 10th July and 31st of October 1940, the number of operational pilots on hand would actually grow for the RAF, while it was significantly depleted in the German camp.
The same could be said of aircraft.
Aircraft production
The Germans may have begun the battle with 1968 operational aircraft, but during the entire year of 1940, they only built 10,247 aircraft of all types, despite having been on a war footing for years.
The British built 2091 Hurricanes and Spitfires between June and November 1940 alone. Meaning that while in July 1940 they had 643 operational fighters, by November 1940 , despite losses, they had built their force up to about 721 operational fighters + 103 in storage (Narrow Margin – Dempster/Wood).
Pilot casualties; RAF vs Luftwaffe
As the Battle of Britain developed from attacks on shipping to attacks on RAF airfields, casualties mounted. The British were losing an average of 17 pilots a week across the 3 months of fighting that summer. The worst period being between the 7th and 13th of August when at least 58 men lost their lives.
When looking at operational causes, In total 412 RAF pilots lost their lives, 228 were wounded, 67 were injured and 15 were taken prisoner, having pushed their luck while pursuing retreating German aircraft (Franks). The official tally is 544 airmen killed by all causes.
During the battle, an RAF pilot had an average 49% chance of being killed if his aircraft was shot down. This survival ratio dropped in the second part of August but rose steadily again as the battle progressed during the last week of September and into October.
By 1st November 1940 The Germans had suffered at least 2000 (John Lake) men killed in combat, Only 638 of these bodies were recovered by the British. Nevertheless, 967 men were captured and many of these were sent to North America to live out their days of captivity.
For them, the war was over. They represented the cream of their air force, with the average fighter pilot being shot down having undergone 5 years of training and being highly experienced.
Victories and Losses
The Luftwaffe claimed to have shot down around 2698 British planes (Townsend), while the RAF put in claims for 2,741 German aircraft. The actual losses are much lower. It’s generally agreed that the Luftwaffe lost 1,887 planes of all types during the Battle, compared to 1,023 RAF aircraft (Bungay).
During the bombing attacks on Britain, 23,002 civilians were also killed, as were additional RAF personnel on the ground.
RAF Bomber Command also participated throughout the battle of Britain and flew 10,689 sorties between 26th June and 13 October dropping 6,010 tonnes of bombs. During those 109 days and nights, They lost 246 aircraft with 800 aircrew being killed, 200 being captured and a further 103 injured. (The Bomber Command Diaries – Middlebrook/Everitt)
Coastal command lost 148 of its own aircraft during the battle in anti-shipping, convoy protecting, and reconnaissance sorties. (Bungay)
After the war, the RAF identified 2,917 airmen who had flown at least one operational sortie with a squadron which was deemed to have participated in the air-fighting between 10 July and 31 October. Of these men, 544 (i.e. 19%), lost their lives in the course of the BattIe.
Of the 2,373 who got through it alive, 1,578 (i.e. 66%), survived the war. Even during the Battle of Britain, when operations had not reached the intensity they were to do in later years, Bomber Command lost 801 pilots and aircrew – almost 50% more than Fighter Command – and another 200 were taken prisoner. A further 103 were wounded.
Final thoughts
To win the battle, German Fighter Commander Theo Osterkamp had set a victory-to-loss goal for his fighter pilots of 5: 1. As the battle progressed, the BF 109 was indeed much more successful against the British fighters, particularly the more numerous Hurricane. However, the Germans never achieve more than a 1.2: 1 ratio. The British managed a ratio of 1.8: 1 themselves. This was enough to keep the wolves at bay and jackboots from marching up the Mall.
Ultimately the Battle of Britain was a morale-boosting victory as well as a military one. The Germans had suffered their first defeat and had been denied the result they sought. While the invasion of Britain and her empire may never have been a true desire of Hitler or even operationally possible, its denial by a still-fighting Britain would shape the course of the war and European history right up to the present.
Sources
Here is a list of the books I used to research this video and article and where you can pick up a copy
The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain – by Stephen Bungay (https://amzn.to/3K1SvVv)
The Battle of Britain: Myth and Reality – Richard Overy (https://amzn.to/3Kjz8Zi)
Battle of Britain – Len Deighton (https://ebay.us/PEDVhu)
The Battle of Britain: The Greatest Air Battle of World War II – Richards/Hough (https://ebay.us/VgtpCX)
The Battle of Britain – James Holland (https://amzn.to/3JZVehT)
The Many Not The Few Hardcover – Richard North (https://amzn.to/3TVIZaI)
The Battle of Britain – Richard Townshend Bickers (https://amzn.to/3nu7X4V)
The Narrow Margin: The Battle of Britain and the Rise of Air Power 1930-40 – Dempster/Wood (https://amzn.to/3U15tr8)
The Bomber Command War Diaries: An Operational Reference Book, 1939-1945 – Middlebrook / Everitt (https://amzn.to/3nxz1jO)
Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses of the Second World War, Vol. 1: Operational Losses, Aircraft and Crews 1939-1941 – Norman Franks (https://amzn.to/404cmJl)
