65 years ago today...

[C]

The Battle of Britain was (officially) over. Two days later it was learned that "Operation Seelowe" had been postponed indefinately, and thankfully as it turned out, for good.

The RAF lost 544 airmen and somewhere around 1000 aircraft to all causes.

Luftwaffe losses totalled between 1300 and 1700 aircraft (hard to quantify as you can't exactly tell if an aircraft was lost on its return home or lived to fight another day), of which well over half were bombers. Sadly, it appears very hard to put a number on the casualties suffered by the Luftwaffe airmen.

They were all very brave men, regardless of nationality, and on this 65th anniversary, we salute you all.

[ozzy72]

Aye, real men!

[Hagar]

Sadly, it appears very hard to put a number on the casualties suffered by the Luftwaffe airmen.

This surprises me. I would think the Luftwaffe data would be extremely accurate. The Germans have a reputation for being thorough.

[ozzy72]

The problem was quantifying between the propoganda, and the POW situation...
Also many records were lost when RAF Bomber Command/USAAF flattened cities....

[C]

The problem was quantifying between the propoganda, and the POW situation...
Also many records were lost when RAF Bomber Command/USAAF flattened cities....

The most accurate figures I can come up with...

1719 Killed

1914 Missing (presumably this would include those fortunate enough to become PoWs)

530 Wounded

[Hagar]

I think they're most probably as accurate as they can be. The Luftwaffe casualties are bound to be greater as a larger proportion of the losses would be bombers with more than one crew member.

Each one is a tragedy & shows the futility of war.

[61_OTU]

Agreed Charlie, well marked as a significant date.

We all look to these machines, Spits, Hurricanes, 109's, FW190's etc., with admiration and desire.

What's difficult to remember is that they were born of terrible times when many similar young men were forced to kill or be killed.

I've read 3 diary accounts recently.

Fighter Pilot by Paul Richey talks of the pre WWII RAF and the BEF in France during the Phoney War right up to Dunkirk.

First Light by Geoffrey Wellum covers the BoB days up to the first attacks on occupied France and D-Day.

The Big Show by Pierre Clostermann goes right up to Victory in Europe and covers the dark days and attrition of ground attacks supporting the allied troops.

All of them however demonstrate feelings of empathy and respect for their opponents in the skies, fellow fliers from the wrong side of arbitrary lines on a map.

Rest easy lads.

If anyone can suggest other good accounts I'd appreciate it, particularly ones from German pilots.

Cheers

Steve

[Hagar]

First Light by Geoffrey Wellum covers the BoB days up to the first attacks on occupied France and D-Day.

I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in this period. A refreshing account seen through a young pilot's eyes although he must be in his 80s now. Within a few months of joining the RAF straight from school he was a veteran. I learned many interesting things about pilot training I've not seen in similar books & I've read a lot in my time. I'm hoping he's working on a sequel as there's a lot more to tell.

As for the German side, try "I Flew for the Fuhrer" by Heinz Knoke. http://www.chez.com/franckruffino/

[ozzy72]

There are a few good books out there, try this website for some info on the German aces http://www.acepilots.com/german/ger_aces.html

[ATI_7500]

Edward H. Sims ("The Fighter Pilots") says that the (official) number of losses for fighters was about 1000 for the RAF and 730 for the Luftwaffe.

[C]

Edward H. Sims ("The Fighter Pilots") says that the (official) number of losses for fighters was about 1000 for the RAF and 730 for the Luftwaffe.

Somewhere around that. I suspect the RAF figure was somewhere around 850-900. With bomber losses of around 1000, the Luftwaffe fighter loss figure sounds reasonable too.

[Flt.Lt.Andrew]

Yeargh Doug!
I was going to suggest the Knoke book...its very well written.
Galland's account is good, but its hard to get...
An important date!


A.

[|| Andy ||]

Mhmm,

And im on a Battle of Britain parade with cadets on Sunday..

[Fly2e]

As the Battle of France progressed, Churchill asked fighter command for more aircraft to send to the continent.  Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, recognizing that nothing could be done for France, refused.  Churchill went to France on June 11 and told P

[Fly2e]

During this time, the English public became involved in a way never before seen in warfare: live radio reports form the front.