"Some Battle of Britain queries campaign kick off." Topic

I have a couple of questions on this – both historical but with a bearing on playing a BoB campaign -

1) What was the process for Luftwaffe units to receive replacement aircraft for casualties? (I understand there was a circa 4 day turnaround time for RAF units to receive a new fighter) but how did the Luftwaffe do it? Some reports I've read say that some Staffel were below 50% strength by the end of the Battle of Britain – does that mean they were just used until wiped out?

2) For both RAF and Luftwaffe, what was the procedure for flights/schwarms that were below strength? Eg on a full squadron scramble, if only 10 Spits could be put in the air, what did the 10th chap do? Fly on his own, or join one of the other vics, or stay at home?

Not really sure.

From bomber units I've researched, it appears that typically they are/were actually over strength by about 10% – 15% or so, at least prior to a major campaign, and that the same applies to pilots for the aircraft as well.

Not sure if that applies to fighters though.

Presumably, at the start of the BoB, the German aircraft strengths would have been restocked, after the Battle for France.

Also, the bit I've gleaned is that usually, combat strengths seem to run about 50% – 70%, depending upon the units and time periods, during WWII, to account for losses, serviceability issues, etc., etc..

Some British units were experimenting with four aircraft units, instead of just three, so in your example, they'd probably just slot in to the rear of the vic of three, or perhaps try a finger-four formation, depending upon the unit and time period.

Germans used finger-four formations from the Spanish Civil War, so the British would be aware of that.

Some British units were also very hard-pressed, especially when the Luftwaffe were going after their fighter bases for a while, so no doubt, they'd be low on op strength too. I recall many mentions of the British having to hold back their fighters and sending them into combat in penny-packets, to make sure there were others available for additional raids.

Eddieazrael
The reason Luftwaffe units fell below strength like that was the German training units and aircraft industry remained on a peace time footing, demand outstripped production. Added to which the Luftwaffe did not feed replacements in from Squadrons in quieter areas like the RAF. At the start of the Battle a Luftwaffe loss would have been replaced within 36 to 48 hours. This would have been the Norm until mid Aug' when it would have started to get longer as reserves were used up. However I think the main difficulty was pilot losses. As said above the Luftwaffe didn't shorten their training regime so there were never enough new pilots during the battle.

Fatman

Oh and as the BoF and BoB rolled into each other units often started out a little below strength. The BoB was a come as you are party for both sides.

Fatman

Ok thanks – do you have any estimates for how long it would have taken units to receive new machines and pilots over the period (eg 1 a week/fortnight/month/not in the campaign timeframe?)

You´ll find a lot of info in this book:

link

Generally speaking the problem for RAF squadrons wasn't lack of aircraft it was lack of pilots. There is a story in Len Deighton's book "Fighter" about a pilot who nursed his shot up plane back and making a landing instead of having bailed out being yelled at by both the Squadron Commander and the Engineering Officer because since the plane made it back they would have to at least try to fix it as opposed to merely requisitioning a new fighter.

It was 1p plus postage from amazon, so ordered, thanks!

The German forward airfields did not have sufficient heavy maintenance hangers for the bombers, so repairs were sidelined and aircraft were unserviceable awaiting repairs.
something like 1/3 of surviving aircraft were finally written off at the end of the battle.
RAF pennypackets were to engage and force escort fighters at combat speed as early as possible to drain fuel and endurance.