WW1 Paved the Way for the Battle of Britain.

[winny]

Originally Posted by MB_Avro_UK

It's not always understood that a mini-Battle of Britain occured in WW1. Mainly between 1916 and 1918.

Britain was being bombed by Zeppelins and later by German bombers in WW1.

The defending British aircraft of the RFC and RNAS had huge problems as regards interceptions and the destruction of these crafts.

It was realised that both a Detection System and heavily armed high performance fighters was the answer.

Hence, radar and eight gunned fast fighters desigined for the RAF in the 1930's.

The only flaw in the calculations was as follows. It was anticipated that the German Luftwaffe bombers would have to fly unescorted from Germany. The fall of France was not envisaged.

Enter the Defiant. Built to intercept unescorted bombers.

Any thoughts?


Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

The RAF owes it's existance to the WWI air attacks by Germany.
An Air defence committee was set up because of them, the main conclusion of the committee was that Britain needed an independant (of the Army) air force. They also saw the need for a flexible defence network of interceptors, AA and detection methods.