Best Battle of Britain Aircraft

[renrich]

Some really good posts and most enjoyable. Best BOB AC looks like a draw between Hurricane and Spitfire, not because the 109 wasn't a fine fighter but it was asked to do the impossible while the two British fighters were in their element and designed mission.

 

[Patrick1974]

I have choosen for the SpitFire.Because it is a symbol for the BoB and i think it's the sexiest plane ever build

 

[Waynos]

Yes it was. You have to feel sorry for the German pilots. The mental anguish they must have gone through to force themselves to destroy the most beautiful thing in the sky must have been terrible

 

[dragonandhistail]

The Hurricane did all the killing that mattered. The Spitfire was sexier and got all the glory.

 

[SpitfireZPC]

Both the Hurricane and the Spitfire were as important as each other in my opinion. There were far more Hurricanes than Spitfires during those summer months and they were generally tasked to go for the bombers while the Spitfires tackled the fighters, so both were equally important in their roles. However, I voted for the Spitfire because having spoken with many of the pilots that flew both during this time, the general consensus is that the Spitfire had the edge.

 

[Maximowitz]

I voted for the Bf 110. It clearly wasn't the best aircraft in the B of B but....hey I like it.

 

[Amsel]

I voted for the Bf 110. It clearly wasn't the best aircraft in the B of B but....hey I like it.

I couldn't tell.

The Me 110 is one of my favorites also. Messerschmitt in general.

 

[BombTaxi]

Hurricane all the way 8) I needn't rehash the excellent arguments made in the Hurris favour, but I will say that it was the backbone of the RAF at the time.

As for the invasion controversy, there is no way the Germans could have got a panzer brigade ashore, never mind divisions, and without German air superiority the RN would have been free to shatter the invasion force at sea. I haven't read Barnettes 'Audit of War' (although I have read some of his other work), and while his is a very astute historian, I find him incredibly quick to highlight the weaknesses of the British forces while downplaying the strengths.

It is also worth noting that among the surrender proponents was the ambassador of the United States, one Joe Kennedy. Had his advice been followed, the war would have been very different...

 

[Amsel]

Those Kennedys'.

 

[Doughboy]

Supermarine Spitfire.

 

[zoul310]

1) Supermarine Spitfire
2) Hawker Hurricane

 

[carbonlifeform]

God help me, I love the Spitty and I voted for it but, the only reason I picked it over the -109 is because it took a much more skilled pilot to fly and fight in the -109 effectively. The Spitfire is a dream to fly, especially the earleir models, whereas the -109 has a tendency to 'crab' in the hands of a less skilled pilot. But with experienced pilots, the two warbirds are so closely matched you'd be hard pressed to pick a winner.

 

[Civettone]

As towards the Hurricane vs Spitfire... isn't it fair to say that the Hurricane was the main reason for British success ... but not so much because of its fighter abilities but more because it was the main British fighter. Also, a reaction towards the usual statement that the Spitfire was the undisputed victor of the BoB.

To say that the Hurricane was is just as wrong as saying the Spitfire was.

Kris

 

[vinnye]

I went with the Spitfire - because it engaged the LW escort fighters and allowed the Hurricanes to attack the bomber formations. I know that this is a generalisation and did not happen during every raid, but I believe it happened farly frequently. This combined with the greater quantity of Hurricanes accounts for it having credit for more kills during the BoB.

 

[tomo pauk]

I went with the Spitfire - because it engaged the LW escort fighters and allowed the Hurricanes to attack the bomber formations. I know that this is a generalisation and did not happen during every raid, but I believe it happened farly frequently. This combined with the greater quantity of Hurricanes accounts for it having credit for more kills during the BoB.

Whenever I see this "Spit went for fighters so Hurricane could do the bombers" stuff, I politely ask people to back the statement up, or to withdraw it. Sure enough, no one has the facts to back it up...

 

[Milosh]

Whenever I see this "Spit went for fighters so Hurricane could do the bombers" stuff, I politely ask people to back the statement up, or to withdraw it. Sure enough, no one has the facts to back it up...

One could always look at the claim list for each a/c.

 

[tomo pauk]

I'm not saying that Hurricane could more easily destroy a Bf-109 then Spitfire.

I'm pointing out that policy/doctrine 'Let's battle escorts with Spits, so Hurricanes can get bombers' was never backed up with facts on this forum (or anywhere AFAIK), so we could positively know it was an official policy/doctrine.

Of course, my invitation still stands.

 

[Mike Williams]

Hello tomo pauk:

Whenever I see this "Spit went for fighters so Hurricane could do the bombers" stuff, I politely ask people to back the statement up, or to withdraw it. Sure enough, no one has the facts to back it up...

I'm pointing out that policy/doctrine 'Let's battle escorts with Spits, so Hurricanes can get bombers' was never backed up with facts on this forum (or anywhere AFAIK), so we could positively know it was an official policy/doctrine.

Please note the following excerpts from instructions written by Air Vice Marshall K. R. Park, Air Officer Commanding, No. 11 Group, Royal Air Force

5 September 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 10.

5. The enemy's main attack must be met in maximum strength between the coast and our line of Sector aerodromes. Whenever time permits, Squadrons are to be put into battle in pairs. Some Spitfire Squadrons are to be detailed to engage the enemy fighter screen at 20,000 or more feet. The Hurricanes, because of their inferior performance, should normally be put in against the enemy bombers, which are rarely above 16,000 feet by day.​

16 September 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 18.

2. The Spitfire Squadrons of Hornchurch and Biggin Hill are, in clear weather, to be detailed in pairs to attack the high fighter screen which is normally between 25,000 and 30,000 feet.

5. If it appears that the first wave of raids are high flying fighters, act as follows:

(i) Detail not less than several pairs of Spitfires to fighter screen;
(ii) Get ample Hurricane Squadrons rendezvoused in pairs in the region of Sector aerodromes.
(iii) Get Northolt and Tangmere Squadrons to Readiness to despatch as wings of three Squadrons to intercept the enemy's second or third wave, which normally contains bombers.​

4 October 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 24.

4. Whenever time permits, I wish Group Controllers to get the Readiness Squadrons in company over Sector aerodromes, Spitfires 25,000 feet, Hurricanes 20,000 feet, and wait till they report they are in position before sending them to patrol lines or to intercept raids having a good track in fairly clear weather.​

8 October 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 26.

2. When a Spitfire Squadron is ordered to Readiness Patrol on the Maidstone Line, its function is to cover the area Biggin Hill-Maidstone-Gravesend, while the other Squadrons are gaining their height, and protect them from the enemy high Fighter Screen. The form of attack which should be adopted on the high enemy fighters is to dive repeatedly on them and climb up again each time to regain height.​

17 October 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 30

Engagement of High Fighter Raids

The general plan is to get one of two Spitfire Squadrons to engage enemy fighters from above about mid-Kent, in order to cover other Spitfire and Hurricane Squadrons whilst climbing to operating height at back patrol lines East and South of London.​

17 October 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 31

Engagement of Mass Bomber Attacks on the London Area.

General Plan:

To engage enemy FIGHTER SCREEN with Spitfire Squadrons from Hornchurch and Biggin Hill half-way between London and the coast, and so enable Hurricane Squadrons from North Weald, Kenley and Northolt to attack bomber formations plus close escort before they reach the line of fighter aerodromes East and South of London. The remaining Squadrons around London that cannot be got up in time to intercept the first wave, to provide a rear screen by climbing over the line of aerodromes East and South of London.

2. The Squadrons from Debden and Tangmere (if disengaged), to be despatched and employed in Wings or pairs, so as to form a screen East and South-East of London to intercept third or fourth wave coming inland, also retreating earlier waves.

Spitfire Squadrons:

3. Assembled at height in pairs on back patrol lines, then detailed to engage high fighter screen at 30,000 feet.

Role: To protect pairs or Wings of Hurricane Squadrons whilst climbing up, also while attacking bombers plus escort. If the high fighter screen withdraws to the coast, a proportion of the Spitfires may be detailed to attack the escorts to incoming bomb raids.

Hurricane Squadrons:

4. Squadrons at Readiness to be despatched in pairs to back patrol lines covering line of aerodromes. Immediately pairs have reached operating height, detail to bomb raids or to forward patrol lines under Spitfires. Squadrons at Available to be brought to Readiness and assembled in pairs at operating height on back patrol lines covering Sector aerodromes, and detailed to second wave of bomb raids.

5. Whilst gaining height the latter Squadrons may have to be detailed to split raids by bombers that attempt to attack vital points on the flank of the mass of bombers plus escort.

Hurricane Squadrons from Flank Sectors (Debden, Tangmere, and possibly Northolt):

6. Despatch in pairs or Wings, according to the clouds, to patrol mid-Kent patrol lines at 20,000 to 25,000 feet to engage

(i) Third or fourth wave attacks of bombers plus escort;
(ii) Retreating bomb raids of first and second wave;
(iii) To protect fighter aerodromes whilst the earlier Hurricane and Spitfire Squadrons are refueling.​

Reinforcement from other Groups:

7. Immediately the enemy bombers appear to be more than 150, request two or three Squadrons to cover the Northern approaches to London, or the South-Western Group of vital points near London, as directed in Controllers Instructions No. 7 , dated August 27th 1940.​

 

[Njaco]

and from "Bf 109 vs Spitfire" by Tony Homes pg 71...

"Fighter Command (and No. 11 Group in particular) had done its best throughout 1940 to send its 19 Spitfire squadrons up against the Jagdwaffe's eight Jagdgeschwader, leaving units equipped with slower, less capable Hurricanes to engage the bombers. Of course both RAF types wound up 'mixing it' with Bf 109Es on a daily basis, and Spitfire pilots also downed their fair share of bombers. Nevertheless, a large portion of the aircraft claimed destroyed by Spitfire pilots, and aces in particular were Bf 109Es, and the same applied to the Jagdwaffe."

 

[slaterat]

I agree with Tomo. It may have been the intent of fighter command to deploy spits against the fighters and Hurricanes against the bombers , but I have never seen it statisically proven that it occurred.I've always been surprised at how many historians and history buffs seem so willing to just accept the assumption that it is true. It would be an interesting topic for a research paper , and one that could yeild some surprising results.

The earliest of the directives posted by Mike is dated Sept 5th and the next one Sept 16 which is later in the battle. By this time in the BoB German fighter escort was operating closer to the bomber formations making contact with German fighters highly likely when intercepting bombers.

Slaterat