WW1 Paved the Way for the Battle of Britain.

[MB_Avro_UK]

Anyway.... back on topic


Here's a picture of my WW1 Royal Flying Corps pilot's helmet and goggles. Also shown is my RFC Mark V Omega cockpit watch, the pilot's Log Book I mentioned earlier and a .303 bullet casing found at Stow Maries airfield.



The WW1 German raids exposed the British vulnerability to air attack. Things were changed by 1940.

But did the Germans learn anything from their WW1 experiences against the British defences?


Best Regards,
MB_Avro

[baronWastelan]

Considering the technology and the objectives were vastly different from 1st war to the 2nd, the Germans would have been well served forgetting the WWI experiences. Unfortunately for the LW, WWI experiences were 99% of Goering's knowledge.

[ATAG_Dutch]

Originally Posted by baronWastelan

Considering the technology and the objectives were vastly different from 1st war to the 2nd, the Germans would have been well served forgetting the WWI experiences. Unfortunately for the LW, WWI experiences were 99% of Goering's knowledge.

Yes that's quite correct.

The decimation of the Luftwaffe in 1940 had nothing to do with the British having the most comprehensive air defence system ever conceived.

Or that Britain had a more efficient training and manufacturing output.

Or that the British believed in giving the pilots a rest as opposed to making them fly until they died.

It was all the fat git's fault.

By the way, there was nothing unfortunate about it, unless you believe the world would be better off under nazi rule.

[ATAG_Dutch]

Good God, everything you just said is so wrong on so many counts I can't begin.

No offence!

Just realised that someone's being reeeeally sarcy. Result. You got me!

One should keep in mind that BoB was the FIRST ever attempt for an oversea invasion with air power playing a role, afaik. There was NO precedent to learn from and learning was by doing it. And it was obviously a very difficult task. And it was done against a defense system that was by its time unique and extremely efficient.

WW1 was a complete different story and the raids had a completely different task.

[BadAim]

Originally Posted by MB_Avro_UK

Anyway.... back on topic


Here's a picture of my WW1 Royal Flying Corps pilot's helmet and goggles. Also shown is my RFC Mark V Omega cockpit watch, the pilot's Log Book I mentioned earlier and a .303 bullet casing found at Stow Maries airfield.



The WW1 German raids exposed the British vulnerability to air attack. Things were changed by 1940.

But did the Germans learn anything from their WW1 experiences against the British defences?


Best Regards,
MB_Avro

I think most of the worlds airforces learned the wrong lessons, from both perspectives on both sides. Nearly all had some form of "the bomber will always get through" doctrine in operation during the interwar years and we know how well that worked out for everyone. For the most part the tactics that were used during WWII were more or less stumbled upon through a mixture of expediency and necessity, and the farsightedness of a few individuals who were in the right place at the right time.

I think that pretty much all of the players were keenly aware of their (and their potential enemies) vulnerabilities to airpower. They just, for the most part didn't see how it would work out.