Battle of Britain

[Oberon]

CASUALTIES FOR JULY

Throughout most of the month, it seemed that the Luftwaffe were content on attacking convoys in the Channel and an occasional town along the coast. Night activity seemed to be devoted to minelaying along the east coast, the south coast and even off the welsh coast. It was not until July 24th that the Luftwaffe got close to London when it attacked shipping in the Thames Estuary, but a single Ju88 did manage to get through and bomb the aircraft factory at Brooklands. Most of the attacks were spasmodic with the weather taking control on most days and determining many of the Luftwaffe raids.
In general, the attacks on the Channel shipping would not only disrupt the food and raw materials that Britain relied upon, but Göring was hoping that Fighter Command would be drawn into combat over the Channel, but Keith Park could forsee this and would not be tempted. But the Luftwaffe was to sustain a high casualty rate even so. Where Göring thought that he could wipe out the Royal Air Force in a matter of weeks meant that he had to do more serious thinking. The figures below show that the Luftwaffe casualties were more than twice that of the R.A.F.

R.A.F. Fighter Command
Hurricane: 33 destroyed, 17 damaged
Pilots: 23 killed, 0 missing, 11 wounded

Spitfire: 34 destroyed, 24 damaged
Pilots: 25 killed, 0 missing, 9 wounded

Blenheim: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Crew: 9 killed, 0 missing, 1 wounded

Defiant: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Crew: 10 killed, 0 missing, 2 wounded

TOTAL AIRCRAFT: 77 destroyed, 43 damaged
TOTAL PERSONNEL: 67 killed, 0 missing, 23 wounded

The Luftwaffe
Dornier Do 17: 39 destroyed, 13 damaged
Personnel: 30 killed, 74 missing, 19 wounded

Heinkel He 111: 32 destroyed, 3 damaged
Personnel: 52 killed, 85 missing, 6 wounded

Junkers Ju 88: 39 destroyed, 11 damaged
Personnel: 52 killed, 67 missing, 11 wounded

Junkers Ju 87: 13 destroyed, 11 damaged
Personnel: 10 killed, 12 missing, 3 wounded

Messerschmitt Bf 109: 48 destroyed, 14 damaged
Personnel: 17 killed, 14 missing, 13 wounded

Messerschmitt Bf 110: 18 destroyed, 4 damaged
Personnel: 13 killed, 17 missing, 2 wounded

Other: 27 destroyed, 1 damaged
Personnel: 19 killed, 33 missing, 15 wounded

TOTAL AIRCRAFT: 216 destroyed, 57 damaged
TOTAL PERSONNEL: 193 killed, 302 missing, 69 wounded

Source: Peter G. Cooksley The Battle of Britain Ian Allan 1990

[Oberon]

August 1st 1940



Luftwaffe target: Convoy off Eastbourne
RAF target: Cherbourg airfield

Enemy activity was on a reduced scale and mostly consisted of reconnaissances and raids by single aircraft or small formations. Shipping was attacked and one land target was bombed. Our fighters shot down four enemy aircraft (one confirmed and three unconfirmed).
Several raids of three plus aircraft flew towards Dungeness; one of these raids was intercepted at 1450 hours by No 145 Squadron (Hurricanes) and one Hs126 and one Ju88 (both unconfirmed) were shot down. We lost one Hurricane.
Off the East Coast four enemy reconnaissances for shipping were reported during the morning and three calls for help were received from convoys. Unfavourable weather prevented interceptions.
In the afternoon following several reconnaissances, a convoy was attacked off Yarmouth and our fighters contacted the enemy successfully. No 242 Squadron (Hurricanes) shot down one Ju88 (confirmed) and one He111 (unconfirmed).
At 1512 hours bombs were dropped on Norwich by one aircraft. From the reports available there is little doubt that this was a hostile Blenheim. Some damage was done in a railway goods yard and two timber yards were set on fire.

German bombers dropped "Last Appeal to Reason" leaflets over many parts of southern England and South Wales. Some authors have made mention of the fact that most of the leaflets fell in the open pasturelands of Hampshire and Somerset, amongst grazing cattle and sheep. We know that English beef and lamb is amongst the finest, but it is going a bit far to expect them to be educated as well.

Directive Number 17 issued by Adolf Hitler:

ADOLF HITLER'S DIRECTIVE No.17 Directive dated August 1st 1940
From his headquarters Hitler issues Directive No. 17 for the conduct of air and sea warfare against England: In order to establish the necessary conditions for the final conquest of England I intend to intensify air and sea warfare against the English homeland. I therefore order as follows:
1. The German Air Force is to overpower the English Air Force with all the forces at its command, in the shortest time possible. The attacks are to be directed primarily against flying units, their ground installations, and their supply organizations, but also against the aircraft industry, including that manufacturing anti-aircraft equipment.
2. After achieving temporary or local air superiority the air war is to be continued against ports, in particular against stores of food, and also against stores of provisions in the interior of the country.
Attacks on the south coast ports will be made on the smallest possible scale, in view of our own forthcoming operations.
3. On the other hand, air attacks on enemy warships and merchant ships may be reduced except where some particularly favourable target happens to present itself, where such attacks would lend additional effectiveness to those mentioned in Paragraph 2, or where such attacks are necessary for the training of air crews for further operations.
4. The intensified air warfare will be carried out in such a way that the Air Force can at any time be called upon to give adequate support to naval operations against suitable targets. It must also be ready to take part in full force in Operation Seelowe.
5. I reserve to myself the right to decide on terror attacks as measures of reprisal.
6. The intensification of the air war may begin on or after 5 August. The exact time is to be decided by the Air Force after completion of preparations and in the light of the weather.
The Navy is authorized to begin the proposed intensified naval war at the same time.

CASUALTIES:

• Enemy: Fighters - None; Bombers - 1 confirmed, 2 unconfirmed; Reconnaissance -1 unconfirmed.
• Own: 1 Hurricane (No 145 Squadron)

• Corrections to 1 August report:
  • The Do215 is now reported to have been a Do17.
  • Enemy casualty by No 29 Squadron at 0015 hours has since proved to be a Fairey Battle of No 1 Group.

[Oberon]

Red Leader - 145 Squadron - RAF Kenley (should have been Westhampnett)

Took off to intercept incoming e/a bound for a outgoing convoy.
Arrived over convoy at angels ten, the rest of the flight stayed lower.
After a bit of a wait some Junkers rolled in. Red two went in, did his bit and then went winchester, I suffered the same fate.


'Kratos' heading for his Junkers just before two other Hurricanes collided with him

Three hurricanes were involved in a mid-air collision whilst trying to intercept the same Junkers.
I set a Junkers smoking, another Hurri put him on fire. He crashed somewhere just inland from the coast.


My Junkers goes down with a little help from another Hurricane

Claimed one Ju-88

RTB'd and rolled up alongside two other Hurricanes.


'Schroeder', myself and 'Arclight'

Pilots notes:
Forgot how little ammo the Hurri IIb has, particularly when going up against a Ju-88. 88s are faster than they look too. Must remember to adopt Boelcke rule three when in dogfights.
Poor Kratos, stuck in the middle of an AI 'MINE!!' fest. Not pretty.


Damn lack of ammo...


Task Force takes on a 109 on take off


Before discovering free energy, a hole in his fuel tank and the English channel, in that order.

[Task Force]

That free energy was a LIE! At the last minute the needle just went crazy. going down every second!

shooting a 109.

2 engines!

err 1 engine...

Oah no... pretty soon no engines.

[Raptor1]

The free energy wasn't a lie, you just had to bloody take the needle and push it into the max position when it started going down.

[Arclight]

Divided my ammo on 2 bombers. Both were smoking heavily and 1 confirmed losing altitude.

No score.

I hate this game.

[Raptor1]

Originally Posted by Arclight

Divided my ammo on 2 bombers. Both were smoking heavily and 1 confirmed losing altitude.

No score.

I hate this game.

Didn't you say score doesn't matter a while ago?

[HunterICX]

Touché!

Well, I think not even half the sorties I played in this campaign I actually made it back to base

HunterICX

[Arclight]

Originally Posted by Raptor1

Didn't you say score doesn't matter a while ago?

Indeed, I was expecting that.

No, don't really care. But if I'm to believe what the game is telling me, I might as well take-off, circle the airfield and try to land. (yes, confident as always )

Bit of recognition would be nice. Isn't that why they hand out medalles?

[Oberon]

Yes, the AI does love to kill steal. The bastids.

However, one should bear in mind that the outlandish kill totals enjoyed by some are not wholly realistic. After all, the highest kill count during the Battle was seventeen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Few

I think we'll wind up with more kills because of our magical ability to transport into any squadron which might be facing action .

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Oberon

I think we'll wind up with more kills because of our magical ability to transport into any squadron which might be facing action .

And miraculously return from the dead.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by HunterICX

Well, I think not even half the sorties I played in this campaign I actually made it back to base

Strangely enough I came home every single time with only one exception.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

And miraculously return from the dead.

[Task Force]

Guess since all arnt working, we will use hunters TS.

[Raptor1]

Originally Posted by Task Force

Guess since all arnt working, we will use hunters TS.

You speak lies.