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Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Bf 109 was arguably the best fighter in the world in 1940. It was faster than the Spitfire at high altitude, could dive more rapidly and carried a more effective armament of two cannon and two machine guns. Most Bf 109 pilots had more combat experience than their RAF counterparts, at least at first, which also conferred a major advantage. However, the Messerschmitt did not have the range to fly beyond London and carried only seven seconds worth of cannon ammunition, which limited its operational usefulness. The Luftwaffe started the Battle with about 1,100 Bf 109s and 906 pilots available. Some 650 aircraft were shot down.
HEINKEL HE 111
Specifications: Crew: Pilot and four gunners/navigators/bomb-aimers Powerplant: Two 1,200hp Junkers Jumo 211D-2 twelve cylinder engines Span: 74 ft 1¾ in (22.60 m) Length: 53 ft 9½ in (16.39 m) Max Speed: 415 km/h (258 mph) at 16,000 ft Armament: Six 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine guns in nose, dorsal, ventral gondola, beam, and tail positions. One 20 mm (.787 in) MG FF cannon in nose. Bomb Load: Normal load of 4,410 lb (2,000 kg) During the Battle of Britain, fifteen Gruppen of Luftflotte 2 and Luftflotte 3 were equipped with the He 111. Like other German bomber types, it proved highly vulnerable to modern RAF fighters. The ineffective defensive armament and slow speed meant that the He 111 required constant protection from Luftwaffe fighters. The glazed nose, where most of the crew were concentrated, made it particularly vulnerable to head-on attacks. However, the He 111 proved capable of sustaining heavy damage and remaining airborne due to its self-sealing fuel tanks and armour plating. When the Luftwaffe switched to targeting British cities in September 1940, the He 111 proved capable of operating in a strategic role even with its limited bomb load. On 25 September, fifty-eight He 111s of KG 55 successfully attacked the Bristol Aeroplane Company’s works at Filton near Bristol, stopping production and causing around 350 casualties. The next day, the same unit completely destroyed the Woolston Supermarine factory, but this did not stop production of the Spitfire, which had been safely dispersed around the country.
Junkers JU87
The infamous ‘Stuka’ achieved notoriety during the Blitzkrieg triumphs of 1939-1940. Its name derived from an abbreviation of the German term for dive bomber - Sturzkampffleugzeug. The Ju 87 was the chosen weapon of the Luftwaffe High Command, designed to deliver pin-point bombing attacks in a near vertical dive. It was effective during the campaigns in Poland and France, when German forces operated largely in an environment of air superiority. But in the skies over Britain the story was very different. After some initial successes by heavily escorted formations, the Stukas were slaughtered by RAF fighters. On their worst day, 18 August, 12 Ju 87s were shot down and many others damaged or written off in crashes on their return. Such losses meant the aircraft was gradually withdrawn from the battle.
Hawker Hurricane
The Hurricane was the most numerous of RAF Fighter Command’s aircraft during the Battle of Britain, equipping 33 squadrons by September 1940. Its traditional design - a wood and metal framework covered in fabric - was derived from earlier biplane fighters and was essentially out of date despite later improvements. However, it was a stable and rugged aircraft that could be maintained and repaired more easily than the Spitfire. Its limitations meant that, where possible, Hurricane squadrons were directed against enemy bombers while the superior Spitfires dealt with the fighter escorts. Despite its shortcomings, the Hurricane accounted for 656 German aircraft during the Battle of Britain - more than the Spitfire. Between 30 July and 16 September, 404 Hurricanes were destroyed.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk1
he Spitfire was the iconic aircraft of the Battle of Britain and became the symbol of British defiance in the air. Designed by Reginald Mitchell, it had an advanced all-metal airframe, making it light and strong. It took longer to build than the Hurricane and was less sturdy, but it was faster and had a responsiveness which impressed all who flew it. Crucially, it was a match for the Luftwaffe’s Messerschmitt Bf 109 and was superior to it at lower altitudes. The Spitfire entered service with No. 19 Squadron at Duxford in August 1938. Production was slow at first, but by September 1940 it was in service with 18 RAF squadrons. Spitfires shot down a total of 529 enemy aircraft, for a loss of 230 of their own.
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