DOCSLIB.ORG

The End of the Beginning

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The End of the Beginning The End of the Beginning Bracknell Paper No 3 A Symposium on the Land/Air Co-operation in The Mediterranean War 1940-43 20 March 1992 Sponsored jointly by the Royal Air Force Historical Society and the Royal Air Force Staff College, Bracknell ii THE END OF THE BEGINNING Copyright ©1992 by the Royal Air Force Historical Society First Published in the UK in 1992 ISBN 0951982419 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission from the Publisher in writing. Printed by Hastings Printing Company Ltd Royal Air Force Historical Society THE END OF THE BEGINNING iii Contents Preface Quotation 1. Opening Remarks: Air Commodore R H Gould 2. Chairman’s Introduction: Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Armitage 3. Land/Air Co-operation: Mr John Terraine 4. The Shape and Course of the Mediterranean War: Major General John Strawson 5. The RAF in the Mediterranean Theatre: Mr Humphrey Wynn 6. How the Joint System Worked: (i) Sir Frederick Rosier and (ii) Sir Kenneth Cross 7. The Commanders and the Command System: Dr Vincent Orange 8. Digest of Group Discussions: A to G 9. Closing Address: Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Armitage 10. Closing Remarks by the Deputy Commandant Air Commodore Gould and the Chairman of the RAF Historical Society Air Marshal Sir Frederick Sowrey Biographical Notes on the Main Speakers The Royal Air Force Historical Society Acknowledgement iv THE END OF THE BEGINNING Senior Air Commanders Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder Air Vice Marshal Coningham Acting Air Commodore Harry Broadhurst THE END OF THE BEGINNING v Preface Land/Air Co-operation in the Mediterranean War 1940-43 is the title of the third of the on-going series of seminars entitled the Bracknell Papers. The seminar was convened jointly by the RAF Historical Society and the RAF Staff College on 20 March 1992 at Bracknell. The capacity audience consisted of members of the RAF Historical Association and the Bracknell Directing staff and students. Contributions were made by former RAF and Army officers, including historians with a variety of origins. The day’s proceedings were presided over by Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Armitage and a similar pattern to the two previous symposia was maintained. The morning was devoted to a series of six talks on various campaign aspects, while in the afternoon the symposium was divided into discussion groups in which issues raised were debated in more detail. These provided an opportunity for Middle East veterans and others to offer recollections and for historians to comment further on a variety of questions and controversies. The volume contains the edited texts of the main talks and a digest of what was said in the discussion groups. Derek Wood Editor vi THE END OF THE BEGINNING ‘It is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps the end of the beginning.’ Winston S Churchill 10 November 1942 Speech to the House of Commons on the victory at El Alamein. ‘The main thing with air superiority is not only getting it but even more important knowing when you have it.’ A desert air commander 1942 Air Chief Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst ‘The lesson that I have learnt today is that there are no new lessons to be learnt, only lessons to be remembered.’ A Staff College student 1992 Squadron Leader A J Stewart THE END OF THE BEGINNING 1 1. Opening Remarks The Deputy Commandant Air Commodore R H Gould It is my great pleasure to welcome you on behalf of the Commandant. This is the third such seminar that we have co-hosted at Bracknell with the RAF Historical Society. Two years ago the subject was the Battle of Britain; the day was enormously successful and proved the value of the joint forum of historians, those who had fought in the campaign, and current members of the RAF Historical Society and the Advanced Staff Course. Last year the subject was the Battle of the Atlantic and it comes as no surprise to me as a maritime aviator that somewhat fewer lessons could be learned in this esoteric and by now highly formalised area of joint military endeavour. Today we return to more fertile ground in our study of the Mediterranean war. This was where many of the lessons of joint land/air operations were learned, and sometimes re-learned, for application in other campaigns both during World War II and subsequently. Most recently many members of the Advanced Staff Course and the RAF Historical Society contributed to operations GRANBY and DESERT STORM and I feel confident they will play a full role in today’s proceedings, perhaps offering the historians and old campaigners some new perspectives on joint warfare. Without further ado and in anticipation of a fascinating and memorable day, may I now hand over to your Chairman for the day Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Armitage. 2 THE END OF THE BEGINNING 2. Chairman’s Introduction Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Armitage KCB CBE Our first speaker is one of the most distinguished – if not the most distinguished – military historians in this country today, John Terraine. I first came across his writings in his ten books about the First World War and his five or so other books on a variety of military topics. He became well known to a much wider public through his many contributions to television programmes on military history and, not least, that famous series on the Great War. But he is perhaps best known to this audience for his works on the U-boat wars and above all for that classic of RAF history, The Right of the Line. As you will hear from John, air power played a vital part in operations on the Western Front in the First World War but not in what we would now call direct support of the armies. Contrary to popular belief the dominant weapon in that conflict was not the machine gun but the artillery piece and it was largely in support of those weapons during the trench warfare of that conflict that land/air co-operation first developed. The Second World War was not about trench warfare and it was therefore not about air support for artillery. John is going to talk about those changes and where they left us by the end of 1940. THE END OF THE BEGINNING 3 3. Land/Air Co-operation Mr John Terraine The Gospel tell us, ‘In the beginning was the Word ... and the Word was God.’ That is a gratifying message for historians and helpful to one and al inasmuch as it leads one to look for key words in a variety of subjects. I am here today to tell you that in the beginning of Air Power was Co-operation – but alas! the word got somewhat garbled in the gospels of the Royal Air Force. It is my task now to take us back to the beginning of the subject, which is (for us) exactly 80 years ago. In January 1912 a newly- formed Air Committee was discussing the formation of a British Aeronautical Service, and the chairman of its technical sub- committee, Colonel J E B Seely, said at one of its meetings, ‘At the present time in this country we have, as far as I know, of actually flying men in the Army about eleven, and of actual flying men in the Navy about eight, and France has about two hundred and sixty-three, so we are what you might call behind.’ As it turned out, this was not a bad thing to be – but I would hesitate to offer the lesson that being behind is necessarily a good thing. They moved pretty fast in 1912; a Royal Flying Corps was quickly formed, and it received a Royal Warrant on April 12; it had an Army Wing and a Navy Wing and a Central Flying School. On 1 July 1914 the Naval Wing separated off to form the Royal Naval Air Service under the Admiralty, and that was how the Air Services went to war a month later – as parts of the Navy and of the Army. So there wasn’t much doubt that there would be some degree of co-operation between Air and Sea, and Air and Land. When war came, in August 1914, the Royal Flying Corps had no fewer than 179 aircraft on its books, but we should not become over- excited by that figure. What rather spoils its impact is the fact that quite a few of them wouldn’t really fly, and quite a few more wouldn’t 4 THE END OF THE BEGINNING fly very well; so it was only with difficulty that the RFC put four squadrons into the air with twelve aircraft each on initial establishment. Just to fill the picture, our French allies were credited with 136 serviceable aircraft, and the Germans could put up about 180, as well as nine Army airships – the famous Zeppelins. The question then promptly arose; what did all this new aerial armament exist for? How was it to be used? As regards France and Britain, the answer is supplied by two pre-war annual Army manoeuvres, in 1911 and 1912. In the French manoeuvres in 1911, air reconnaissance in conjunction with cavalry was tried, but not very much is said about it; it certainly doesn’t sound very promising. The significant feature of the French exercises was air co-operation with artillery and, according to British observers, even at that early date the progress made was impressive.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Annual Report 2016
    BRINGING THE WORLD TO INDIA Annual Report 2016 Observer Research Foundation (ORF) seeks to lead and aid policy thinking towards building a strong and prosperous India in a fair and equitable world. It sees India as a country poised to play a leading role in the knowledge age—a role in which it shall be increasingly called upon to proactively ideate in order to shape global conversations, even as it sets course along its own trajectory of long-term sustainable growth. ORF helps discover and inform India’s choices. It carries Indian voices and ideas to forums shaping global debates. It provides non-partisan, independent, well-researched analyses and inputs to diverse decision-makers in governments, business communities, academia, and to civil society around the world. Our mandate is to conduct in-depth research, provide inclusive platforms and invest in tomorrow’s thought leaders today. Ideas l Forums l Leadership l Impact message from the CHAIRMAN 3 Bharat Goenka message from the DIRECTOR 5 Sunjoy Joshi 9 PROGRAMMES & INITIATIVES 43 FORUMS 51 PUBLICATIONS message from the VICE PRESIDENT 62 Samir Saran Contents 65 FINANCIAL FACTSHEET 68 List of EVENTS 74 List of PUBLICATIONS ANNEX 79 List of FACULTY 67 84 ORF THEMATIC TREE ORF is paying special attention to the intellectual depth of its work and enhancing the ability to deliver products and services efficiently. We are also endeavouring to further extend the reach among the policy makers, academics and business leaders worldwide. —late shri r.k. mishra 1 Message from the Chairman bharat goenka t the end of a journey of over ORF hosted over 240 interactions, a quarter century, even as discussions, roundtables and conferences AI extend my greetings to all on contemporary policy questions.
    [Show full text]
  • समाचार पत्र से चियत अंश Newspapers Clippings
    Jan 2021 समाचार पत्र से चियत अंश Newspapers Clippings A Daily service to keep DRDO Fraternity abreast with DRDO Technologies, Defence Technologies, Defence Policies, International Relations and Science & Technology खंड : 46 अंक : 17 23-25 जनवरी 2021 Vol. : 46 Issue : 17 23-25 January 2021 रक्षा िवज्ञान पुतकालय Defence Science Library रक्षा वैरक्षाज्ञािनकिवज्ञानसूचना एवपुतकालयं प्रलेखन क द्र Defence ScientificDefence Information Science & Documentation Library Centre - मेरक्षाटकॉफवैज्ञािनकहाउस,स िदलीूचना एवं 110प्रलेखन 054क द्र Defence ScientificMetcalfe Information House, Delhi & ‐ Documentation110 054 Centre मेटकॉफ हाउस, िदली - 110 054 Metcalfe House, Delhi‐ 110 054 CONTENTS S. No. TITLE Page No. DRDO News 1-17 DRDO Technology News 1-17 1. डीआरडीओ ने �कया �माट� एंट� एयरफ��ड वेपन का सफल उड़ान पर��ण 1 2. Successful flight test of Smart Anti Airfield Weapon 2 3. Visit of Vice Chief of the Air Staff to CAW, DRDO Hyderabad and Air Force 2 Academy 4. वाय ु सेना उप�मुख ने सीएड��य,ू डीआरडीओ हैदराबाद और वाय ु सेना अकादमी का दौरा �कया 3 5. India working on 5th-generation fighter planes: IAF Chief 4 6. DRDO successfully tests smart anti-airfield weapon for 9th time 5 7. भारत ने बनाया एक और खतरनाक और �माट� ह�थयार, द�मनु के हवाई रनवे को पलभर म� कर 6 देगा तबाह 8. Air Marshal HS Arora Param visits DRDO Hyderabad, flies Pilatus PC-7 Trainer 7 Aircraft sortie 9.
    [Show full text]
  • Library Additions BOOKS
    Library Additions BOOKS AERODYNAMICS Distributed by Transatlantic classic first-hand account by South Australia 5031 (https:// UK. 2002. 244pp. Illustrated. Publishers Group, 97 Sir Ross Smith of the epic first www.wakefieldpress.com.au/). ISBN 1-904010-00-8. Flight: and Some of its Greenham Road, London N10 flight to Australia in pursuit of a 2019. 357pp. $29.95 (Aust). Incorporating a number Little Secrets. F M Burrows. 1LN, UK. £116 [20% discount prize of £10,000 – which had ISBN 978-1-74305-663-9. of first-hand recollections, Published by the author, available to RAeS members been announced on 19 March A fictional reconstruction a compilation of concise London. 2017. iv; 322pp. on request; E mark.chaloner@ 1919 by the Australian Prime of the epic first flight to biographies of Air Chief Illustrated. £30. ISBN 978-1- tpgltd.co.uk ] ISBN 978-1- Minister Billy Hughes – for the Australia – the 135 hours 55 Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst, 79569-651-7. 62410-538-8. first successful Australian- minutes 11,340 mile flight Air Vice-Marshal William Illustrated throughout crewed flight to Australia from of a Vickers Vimy in carefully Crawford-Compton, Squadron with numerous clear colour Both books can also be Great Britain in an aircraft planned stages from England Leader Dave Glaser, Flight diagrams, a well-illustrated purchased as a two-volume made in the British Empire to Australia by Ross and Keith Lieutenant Eric Lock, Flight introduction to the science of set for £165 [20% discount which was to be completed Smith – accompanied by their Lieutenant William ‘Tex’ Ash, fluid dynamics, aerodynamics available to RAeS members within 30 days.
    [Show full text]
  • Shalyta Magon Army B.Sc, PGDBA(HR) 10 35 54 Sqn Ldr Simran Kaur Bhasin Air Force B.Sc 10 33 56 Maj Anita Marwah Army B.E
    Contents About IIMA 2 From the Director's Desk 3 Profile of Faculty Members who taught us 4 From the Course Coordinators 5 What they say about us 6 Batch Profile 8 Placement Preferences 9 Participants Profile Index 10 Resume 12 Course Curriculum 67 Previous Recruiters 68 Placement Coordination 69 1 About IIM-A IIMA has evolved from being India's premier management institute to a notable international school of management in just five decades. It all started with Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and a few spirited industrialists realising that agriculture, education, health, transportation, population control, energy and public administration were vital elements in a growing society, and that it was necessary to efficiently manage these industries. The result was the creation of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in 1961 as an autonomous body with the active collaboration of the Government of India, Government of Gujarat and the industrial sectors. It was evident that to have a vision was not enough. Effective governance and quality education were seen as critical aspects. From the very start, the founders introduced the concept of faculty governance: all members of the faculty play an important role in administering the diverse academic and non-academic activities of the Institute. The empowerment of the faculty has been the propelling force behind the high quality of learning experience at IIMA. The Institute had initial collaboration with Harvard Business School. This collaboration greatly influenced the Institute's approach to education. Gradually, it emerged as a confluence of the best of Eastern and Western values. 2 From the Director's Desk Dear Recruiter, It gives me immense pleasure and pride to introduce the Tenth batch of Armed Forces Programme (AFP) participants who are undergoing six month residential course in Business Management at IIM Ahmedabad.
    [Show full text]
  • Revamping the Military Training System
    Revamping the Military Training System Revamping the Military Training System S.K. Saini* “Victory smiles upon those who anticipate changes in the nature of war.” Giulio Douhet Introduction According to Andrew Marshall, former director of the Office of Net Assessments under the US Secretary of Defence, “a revolution in military affairs (RMA) is a major change in the nature of warfare brought about by the innovative application of new technologies which, combined with dramatic changes in the military doctrine and operational and organisational concepts, fundamentally alters the character and conduct of military operations.” RMA has three main constituents, namely, doctrine, technology and tactics.1 The foremost global trend transforming the security framework is the dramatic growth in information technology (IT) and the RMA it has created.2 India has been acknowledged as a major IT base in the world, with a large work force possessing the necessary skills. It also has reasonably well developed civil programmes in satellite, telecommunications, space and nuclear technology. Besides advanced indigenous technologies being available to the armed forces, a major modernisation programme is underway, wherein state-of-the-art technologies are being acquired *Colonel S.K. Saini is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Defence and Strategic Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. Journal of Defence Studies • Vol. 2 No. 1 Journal of Defence Studies • Summer 2008 65 S.K. Saini from abroad, especially after the Kargil conflict. Thus technology is not a limiting factor in the Indian context any more. The other two components of RMA – doctrine and tactics – are within the capabilities of the armed forces for making significant changes as determined.
    [Show full text]
  • Sir Michael Quinlan on RAF Policy 1962-65
    ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORICAL SOCIETY JOURNAL 24 2 The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributors concerned and are not necessarily those held by the Royal Air Force Historical Society. Copyright 2001: Royal Air Force Historical Society First published in the UK in 2001 by the Royal Air Force Historical Society All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing. ISSN 1361-4231 Typeset by Creative Associates 115 Magdalen Road Oxford OX4 1RS Printed by Professional Book Supplies Ltd 8 Station Yard Steventon Nr Abingdon OX13 6RX 3 CONTENTS ‘THE ROYAL AIR FORCE IN TRANSITION, 1962- 5 1965’: Address by Sir Michael Quinlan at the AGM held on 28th June 2000. BOSNIA 1992-1995 – A CASE STUDY IN THE 12 DENIAL OF THE ADVANTAGE CONFERRED BY AIR SUPERIORITY. A winning British Two Air Forces Award paper by Sqn Ldr S Harpum RAF. THE INFLUENCE OF SPACE POWER ON HISTORY 21 (1944-1998). A winning American Two Air Forces Award paper by Capt John Shaw USAF. THE DE HAVILLAND VENOM WITH No 8 SQN IN 36 THE MIDDLE EAST by Air Vice-Marshal L W Phipps. SQN LDR G D GRAHAM DSO MBE by Frank Card. 46 THE RAF HERALDRY TRUST. 56 SUMMARY OF THE MINUTES OF THE 60 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD IN THE ROYAL AIR FORCE CLUB ON 28 JUNE 2000. FEEDBACK 64 BOOK REVIEWS.
    [Show full text]
  • Compendium of World War Two Memories
    World War Two memories Short accounts of the wartime experiences of individual Radley residents and memories of life on the home front in the village Compiled by Christine Wootton Published on the Club website in 2020 to mark the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War Two Party to celebrate VJ Day in August 1946 Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) was on 8 August 1945. It's likely the party shown in the photograph above was held in Lower Radley in a field next to the railway line opposite the old village hall. Club member Rita Ford remembers a party held there with the little ones in fancy dress, including Winston Churchill and wife, a soldier and a Spitfire. The photograph fits this description. It's possible the party was one of a series held after 1945 until well into the 1950s to celebrate VE Day and similar events, and so the date of 1946 handwritten on the photograph may indeed be correct. www.radleyhistoryclub.org.uk ABOUT THE PROJECT These accounts prepared by Club member and past chairman, Christine Wootton, have two main sources: • recordings from Radley History Club’s extensive oral history collection • material acquired by Christine during research on other topics. Below Christine explains how the project came about. Some years ago Radley resident, Bill Small, gave a talk at the Radley Retirement Group about his time as a prisoner of war. He was captured in May 1940 at Dunkirk and the 80th anniversary reminded me that I had a transcript of his talk. I felt that it would be good to share his experiences with the wider community and this set me off thinking that it would be useful to record, in an easily accessible form, the wartime experiences of more Radley people.
    [Show full text]
  • AHSA 1989 AH Vol 25 No 04.Pdf
    VOLUME 25 aviation NUMBER 4 / I ■ wsm HERITAOE mi ii* I >•1 THE JOURNAL OF THE AVIATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA BRIiil ■ i; Registered by Australia Post Publication No. VBQ154 * 1 FE 2B crashed on taking offfrom makeshift airfield in a farmer’s paddock. Royal Australian Navy personnel formed salvage team. (RAAF MUSEUM POINT COOK) German propaganda experts made much of the 'Wolfchen and its exploits on the "Wo^ s raiding voyage. Aviation Heritage Vol 25. No. 4 72 VOLUME 25 Z/^IATION HERITAGE NUMBER 4 I--------------------- 1 I-------------- J THE JOURNAL OF THE AVIATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA CONTENTS EDITORIAL Page 74 The Air search for the Raider Wolf By Bert Cookson Page 82 ■ini* The RAF Vulcan in Australia By Dr. Denis O’Brien Page 93 Information Echo Vulcan VH480 flies over RAAF Laverton Base at an air show on 19 September 1965 (John Hop ton) Cover photo. Vulcan XH 481 at the end of its non-stop flight to Australia,July 1961. Once again the idea of Australia having a national repository where our rich aviation history could be preserved has been brought to public attention. AHS A AND EDITORIAL ADDRESS Recentnews of a proposed National Air and Space Museum has raised an issue that has been P.O. Box 287, Cheltenham, Victoria. 3192 on and off the political agenda for many years. EDITORIAL COMMITTEE The fact that, for the most part, preserving Australia’s avation heritage is still the result of David Anderson Dion Makowski the work and entepreneurial approach of a dedicated few is fair indication of the level of Denis Baker Bob Wills Fred Morton commitment of Australian government at all levels to the preservation and presentation of Australian aviation history.
    [Show full text]
  • PARTING SHOTS and FAREWELL SALUTES ANNING the Salient Defences, Which Were So Exposed, So Close T O Those of the Enemy, Was Stil
    CHAPTER 9 PARTING SHOTS AND FAREWELL SALUTES ANNING the Salient defences, which were so exposed, so close t o M those of the enemy, was still the most dangerous infantry duty to b e performed day by day in Tobruk . The diarist of the 2/13th Field Com- pany paid a special tribute to the 2/24th Battalion's work in the Salien t in re-siting the tactical wire to obtain maximum advantage from its fir e plan, which it did first on the left of the Salient (from 18th August t o 1st September) and later on the right (from 8th to 25th September) . In both sectors the 2/24th lost a number of men from anti-personnel mines . Nevertheless the Salient was less dangerous than in the summer month s because the defences had been gradually improved by deepening an d more overhead cover had been provided. Also the front-line troops of each side had developed a certain amount of tolerance of the other an d had unofficially adopted "live-and-let-live" attitudes to some extent . After sundown there was an unofficial truce for three or four hours, mor e strictly observed, it would appear, on the right of the Salient than on the left, during which both sides brought up their evening meal and undertook tasks on the surface (for example, repairs to wire) that were dangerou s at other times. The end of the nightly truce was usually notified by a flare-signal. There was a curious entry in the diary of the Italian officer captured o n the night on which Jack was overrun .
    [Show full text]
  • Aviation Paperbacks 1959 59/Pat.1 Panther Books 964 1959 Larry Forrester, Fly for Your Life, the Story of R..R
    Aviation Paperbacks 1959 59/pat.1 Panther Books 964 1959 Larry Forrester, Fly For Your Life, The Story of R..R.. Stanford Tuck, D.S.O., D.F.C. and Two 59/bal.1 Ballantine Books F 514 K Bars, A Panther Book Robert S. Johnson with Martin Caidin, First published by Frederick Muller March 1956, Thunderbolt!, Ballantine Books, New York reprinted September 1956. Panther edition First printing September 1958, second printing published October 1959 by Hamilton & Co October 1958, by Rinehart & Co, New York; (Stafford) Ltd, London. This Panther edition has First Ballantine edition 1959, second printing been abridged by arrangement with the author. May 1961. pp. [iv] 5-222 [2] adverts.+ 8 plates. pp. [vi] 7-222 [223-224] list of Panther Books Printers: Printed in the United States of Printers: Hunt, Barnard & Co Ltd, at the Sign of America. the Dolphin, Aylesbury Price: 50¢ Price: 2/6 Front cover: painting of P.47 firing rockets, Front cover: col. painting, signed Derek A. unsigned. “1943-45: the story of the U.S. 56th Stewart [?], of pilots scrambling to Spitfires. Fighter Group that shot down over 1000 Nazi Review quote. Into the thundering rivers of planes.” German bombers, nerves taut and guns blazing Rear cover: [synopsis] and advert. for Boeing Rear cover: synopsis and monochrome photo of 707 by Martin Caidin Stanford Tuck [2] original edition 1956: 59/cor.1 Corgi Giant G676 London: Fredferick Muller, 1956. 19.5 x 13cm. C.F. Rawnsley and Robert Wright, Night fighter, pp. [iv] 5-367 + frontis. + 12 plates Foreword by John Cunningham, [Corgi Books [3] Panther Books 1973: logo] Transworld Publishers, London First published by Frederick Muller 1956.
    [Show full text]
  • The Journal of the Royal Air Force College VOLUMELXXXIV
    THE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE COLLEGE THE ROYAL THE JOURNAL OF The Journal of the Royal Air Force College VOLUME VOLUME LXXXIV May 2013 Volume LXXXIV Designed and Printed by Media Services, Serco UK & Europe, Royal Air Force Cranwell Foreword Air Commodore David Stubbs OBE ADC FRAeS RAF, Commandant Royal Air Force College elcome to the 2013 edition of the Journal of the Royal Air Force In addition to providing training, College personnel are also tirelessly WCollege. This is the first publication of the journal that I have working in support of operations, both overseas and in the UK. The presided over as Commandant of the College, and I am pleased to take campaign in Afghanistan is moving inexorably towards the withdrawal of this opportunity to illustrate the College’s ongoing and vital contribution combat forces, but the RAF will no doubt remain heavily committed for to today’s RAF. The Journal this year reminds us that, beyond the effects of some time in support of the nascent Afghan Air Force. Recent operations the most recent Strategic Defence and Security Review, our organisation in Libya and Mali have further demonstrated our ability to react rapidly, at has an exciting future. The collection of articles here demonstrate that the reach, in response to emerging global issues. We are always looking for ways Armed Forces are as relevant now as they ever have been, and the Royal to work smarter and, aside from the continued procurement of world-class Air Force, in partnership with industry, remains at the cutting edge of equipment and aircraft, we maximise the benefits of Intelligence to provide defence technology.
    [Show full text]
  • © Osprey Publishing • © Osprey Publishing • HITLER’S EAGLES
    www.ospreypublishing.com © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com HITLER’S EAGLES THE LUFTWAFFE 1933–45 Chris McNab © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com CONTENTS Introduction 6 The Rise and Fall of the Luftwaffe 10 Luftwaffe – Organization and Manpower 56 Bombers – Strategic Reach 120 Fighters – Sky Warriors 174 Ground Attack – Strike from Above 238 Sea Eagles – Maritime Operations 292 Ground Forces – Eagles on the Land 340 Conclusion 382 Further Reading 387 Index 390 © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com INTRODUCTION A force of Heinkel He 111s near their target over England during the summer of 1940. Once deprived of their Bf 109 escorts, the German bombers were acutely vulnerable to the predations of British Spitfires and Hurricanes. © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com he story of the German Luftwaffe (Air Force) has been an abiding focus of military Thistorians since the end of World War II in 1945. It is not difficult to see why. Like many aspects of the German war machine, the Luftwaffe was a crowning achievement of the German rearmament programme. During the 1920s and early 1930s, the air force was a shadowy organization, operating furtively under the tight restrictions on military development imposed by the Versailles Treaty. Yet through foreign-based aircraft design agencies, civilian air transport and nationalistic gliding clubs, the seeds of a future air force were nevertheless kept alive and growing in Hitler’s new Germany, and would eventually emerge in the formation of the Luftwaffe itself in 1935. The nascent Luftwaffe thereafter grew rapidly, its ranks of both men and aircraft swelling under the ambition of its commander-in-chief, Hermann Göring.
    [Show full text]