Friday Update, April 13, 2012

[5./JG27.Farber]

Originally Posted by Hooves

I'm sorry but you have it absolutely backwards. In historical context the RAF actually had an advantage as the LW were ordered to stay with the bombers...

Not for the entire battle, that order was mid to late BoB - I cant remember when or find the date, Im assuming late August.

However from the most unreliable of sources, heres this from wiki:

"By September, standard tactics for raids had become an amalgam of techniques. A Freie Jagd would precede the main attack formations. The bombers would fly in at altitudes between 16,000 feet (4,900 m) and 20,000 feet (6,100 m), closely escorted by fighters. Escorts were divided into two parts (usually Gruppen), some operating in close contact with the bombers, and others a few hundred yards away and a little above."


O how I loathe wikipedia.


It is, through non rose tinted glasses, widely acknowlegded that the most superior fighter, by a margin, in 1940 was the 109. Later in the war the arms race sees the spit and 109 leap frogging each other however many many other factors must be taken into consideration. Its simply NOT who had the best plane won. As you mentioned - orders for one hampered the 109 driver late in BoB.

I have a huge respect for Hurricane pilots, they were the back bone of the BoB and many other theatres where the Spitfire was largely abscent for some time. Sadly the 109 WAS better than the Hurri and the pilots where often better also. However its not just the kite - Its largley the pilot. That brings us to another factor, we as virtual pilots NEVER DIE. We learn from our mistakes, we all have more than 5 Victories (an ace) and more than 10 (Experte )... We live to fly another day! We have the knowledge of the best tactics that those who did this for real did not. So its not all down to the plane, which in this Sim - should be as historic as possible and the rest is up to us.