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#63
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In message , Cub Driver
writes As I recall the Battle of Britain, the German fighters were difficult to cope with because they did *not* stick with the bombers -- at least in the sense that they flew nearby. Instead they flew at a much higher altitude. That's what caused the Brits to adopt the strategy of sending the Hurricanes after the bombers and the Spitfires after the fighters. Correct, until bomber losses led to complaints about the fighters "failing to escort": so instead of operating to maximise attrition against the RAF, the Luftwaffe fighters were ordered into close escort of the bombers. Doubtless reassuring, to see 109s flying S-curves alongside you: but they've got a lot less speed and height to use when the RAF comes in to play. -- When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite. W S Churchill Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk |
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Stephen Harding wrote:
Saw the Tuskeegee Airmen movie earlier this week where intermission had discussions with a couple fellows who were members of the real thing. Quite interesting. However, they mentioned the oft repeated accolade that they never lost a bomber to enemy fighters that they escorted. One reason, according to one of the actual "Airmen", was they *stuck with their charges* rather than follow the German fighters to the ground as the 8th was doing by 1944. History seems to say this was precisely the *wrong* thing to be doing! The bombers served as much as "incentive" for the LW to come up to fight, as they were in destroying German war fighting resources. The shift from "sticking with the bombers" to "follow the enemy anywhere and destroy him" seemed to do the trick for the 8th. History is a wonderful thing and everything might seem the right thing to do at that time. Sadly, hindsight is no use to the past. Still, it keeps this group busy! Richard. |
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