11 Iconic Aircraft That Fought in the Battle of Britain
- Hawker Hurricane. Hawker Hurricanes accounted for 60% of German losses in the Battle of Britain. ...
- Supermarine Spitfire. The Spitfire remains one of the most iconic aircraft of the Second World War. ...
- Messerschmitt bf 109. Messerschmitt bf 109E-3. ...
- Messerschmitt bf 110. ...
- Boulton Paul Defiant. ...
- Fiat CR.42. ...
- Dornier Do 17. ...
- Junkers Ju 88. ...
- Heinkel He 111. ...
- Fiat BR.20. ...
- The most famous fighter aircraft used in the Battle of Britain were the British Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire Mk I, and the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 E variant (Emil) single-engined fighters. ...
- Many of the Spitfires used in the battle were purchased privately.
What fighter aircraft were used in the Battle of Britain?
The most famous fighter aircraft used in the Battle of Britain were the British Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire Mk I, and the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 E variant ( Emil) single-engined fighters.
What was the most popular RAF plane in WW2?
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design - a wood and metal framework covered in fabric - was derived from earlier biplane fighters and was essentially out of date despite later improvements.
What planes did Connie Edwards Fly in the Battle of Britain?
This Supermarine Spitfire actually flew in the Battle of Britain. Edwards received the aircraft as payment for his participation for flying in the 1969 movie Battle of Britain. This North American P-51 was payment for Connie's flying for the Nicaraguan government in their Civil War.
Did a Spitfire actually fly in the Battle of Britain?
This Supermarine Spitfire actually flew in the Battle of Britain. Edwards received the aircraft as payment for his participation for flying in the 1969 movie Battle of Britain. Photography by Mike Fizer. This Supermarine Spitfire actually flew in the Battle of Britain.
What planes are in the Battle of Britain?
Here are 9 iconic aircraft of the Battle of Britain:© IWM CH 1447. Supermarine Spitfire. ... © IWM CH 1501. Hawker Hurricane. ... © IWM CH 885. Boulton Paul Defiant. ... © IWM HU 73432. Messerschmitt Bf 109. ... © IWM HU 108211. Messerschmitt Bf 110. ... © IWM GER 530. Heinkel He 111. ... © IWM C 5423. Dornier Do 17. ... © IWM MH 6115. Junkers Ju 88.More items...
Which aircraft won the Battle of Britain?
The SpitfireThe Spitfire, renowned for winning victory laurels in the Battle of Britain (1940–41) along with the Hawker Hurricane, served in every theatre of the war and was produced in more variants than any other British aircraft.
What type of planes did the British use in WW2?
Transport and communicationsModel nameIntroductionOperatorBristol Buckingham1943RAFConsolidated PB2Y Coronado1937RAFConsolidated B-24 Liberator1943RAFde Havilland Albatross1938Imperial Airways, BOAC, RAF50 more rows
Which was faster Spitfire or mosquito?
Further trials with the second prototype, W4050, against a Spitfire Mk II later in the year showed that the Mosquito was substantially faster, reaching a top speed of 392mph compared to the Spitfire's 360mph.
What was the most feared plane in WW2?
Junkers Ju87 Widely known as the “Stuka”, the Ju87 was one of the most feared aircraft during World War Two. It had a fearsome siren which terrified those who heard it. Lockheed Hudson Useful aeroplane. The wooden lifeboat was designed to be dropped by Hudsons to rescue airmen who had ditched.
What was the best British plane of ww2?
The Spitfire was the quintessential British fighter during World War II, its renown effectuated by its versatility and reliability. Where American pilots championed the Mustang, the RAF campaigned the Spitfire and it became the RAF pilot favorite. Reginald Mitchell oversaw the design of the Spitfire.
Which ww2 plane was the best?
The number 1 is no surprise: the North American P-51 Mustang. Often and usually considered the best fighter of the war, the P-51 was a game-changer for Allied forces. Employed as a long-range bomber escort, the P-51 was unmatched by German planes, especially at high altitudes.
What is the most famous ww2 plane?
The 8 Best, Most Famous Aircraft of WWIISupermarine Spitfire (UK)Messerschmitt Bf 109 (Germany)North American P-51 Mustang (USA)Mitsubishi A6M Zero (Japan)Boeing B-29 Superfortress (USA)De Havilland DH 98 Mosquito (U.K.)Focke-Wulf FW-190 (Germany)Dewoitine D-520 (France)
How many planes did Britain lose in the Battle of Britain?
The Royal Air Force (RAF) lost 1250 aircraft, including 1017 fighters. In all, 520 men were killed serving with Fighter Command. But with more than 700 fatalities during the period of the battle, Bomber Command suffered even more heavily. Another 200 men were killed flying with Coastal Command.
Which was better Hurricane or Spitfire?
The Spitfire and Bf 109E were well-matched in speed and agility, and both were somewhat faster than the Hurricane. However, the slightly larger Hurricane was regarded as an easier aircraft to fly and was effective against Luftwaffe bombers.
Who won in the Battle of Britain?
British victoryBritish victory in the Battle of Britain was decisive, but ultimately defensive in nature – in avoiding defeat, Britain secured one of its most significant victories of the Second World War.
Why did the Luftwaffe lose the Battle of Britain?
The decisive factors were British capability and determination, but German mistakes, before and during the battle, contributed significantly to the outcome. German rearmament was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I, but aircraft development continued under the guise of civil aviation.
What aircraft was used in the Battle of Britain?
1. Supermarine Spitfire. The 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.
How many aircraft did the Spitfires shoot down?
Spitfires shot down a total of 529 enemy aircraft, for a loss of 230 of their own. 2. 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.
Why was the Bf 109 used?
It was markedly inferior to the more nimble RAF fighters and became a liability when attempting to guard the bomber formations. The Germans were forced to use Bf 109s to escort the Bf 110s. However, the aircraft was more effective when used for low-level attacks against factories and RAF airfields.
What squadron was the Spitfire in?
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 S quadron at Duxford in August 1938. Production was slow at first, but by September 1940 it was in service with 18 RAF squadrons.
What was the most important bomber in the 1940s?
The He 111 was the most important of the Luftwaffe's early bombers, but was obsolescent in 1940. Its bomb load of 2,000 kg was insufficient for a strategic bombing campaign and it was slow and poorly armed. Measures to increase its defensive armament proved ineffective and the Heinkel, like other German bomber types, was acutely vulnerable to RAF fighter opposition. In its favour was a structural strength that could soak up punishment – many aircraft managed to return to base with hundreds of bullet holes in their fuselage and flying surfaces.
What was the battle between the Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffe?
From The Battle Of Britain. The Battle of Britain, which raged between July and October 1940, pitted the Royal Air Force against the German Luftwaffe in a duel for air superiority over southern England. Pilots on both sides were at the controls of some of the most iconic aircraft in aviation history, including the Spitfire, ...
What is the design of the Spitfire?
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.
What was the name of the plane that was used in the Battle of Britain?
The Fiat CR.42 was an older Italian fighter used by the Corpo Aereo Italiano . They made only one mission during the Battle of Britain, a raid on Ramsgate, as the biplanes were not equal to modern fighters. On 11 November 1940, four CR.42s were shot down by Hurricanes without losing a craft.
How many Allied pilots died in the Battle of Britain?
Around 1,500 Allied pilots perished during the Battle of Britain.
What was the role of Junkers Ju 87s in the Battle of Britain?
If the Luftwaffe had won the Battle of Britain, these dive bombers would have played a vital role in disabling the British fleet as the German invasion force attempted to cross the Channel.
What happened to the Stukas during the Battle of Britain?
During the Battle of Britain, squadrons of Stukas gained some success destroying ground targets. On 13 August 1940 – Eagle Day – Stukas attacked RAF Detling and inflicted a high level of damage on the airfield.
What was the Heinkel He 111?
The Heinkel He 111 was the most numerous bomber which the Luftwaffe deployed during the Battle of Britain. It was capable of storing and delivering large bombs (250kg) and had state-of-the-art gyroscopic sights to improve its accuracy. The He 111 was protected armour plating and self-sealing fuel tanks which made them difficult to shoot down.
How many bombs can a BR.20 carry?
This Italian twin-engined bomber could carry 1,600kg of bombs. When it was developed, the BR.20 was considered one of the most advanced bombers in the world. However, it participated in the latter stages of the Battle of Britain to limited effect.
How long did it take for the Hawker Hurricanes to be refuelled?
They were the most numerous fighter aircraft which the RAF deployed, partly owing to their rapid turn-around time (it took them only 9 minutes to be refuelled and re-armed).
How many German aircraft were in the Battle of Britain?
126 German aircraft or "Adolfs" were claimed by Polish pilots of 303 Squadron during the Battle of Britain.
What was the Battle of Britain?
The Battle of Britain ( German: die Luftschlacht um England, "the Air Battle for England") was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defended the United Kingdom (UK) against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany 's air force, the Luftwaffe.
How was the Luftwaffe ill-served?
The Luftwaffe was ill-served by its lack of military intelligence about the British defences. The German intelligence services were fractured and plagued by rivalry; their performance was "amateurish". By 1940, there were few German agents operating in Great Britain and a handful of bungled attempts to insert spies into the country were foiled.
What was the Bf 109?
The Bf 109, unlike the Stuka, could fight on equal terms with RAF fighters after releasing its ordnance. At the start of the battle, the twin-engined Messerschmitt Bf 110C long-range Zerstörer ("Destroyer") was also expected to engage in air-to-air combat while escorting the Luftwaffe bomber fleet.
How old was Julian Glover in the Battle for Britain?
The battle is also depicted in the 1956 film Reach for the Sky and First Light (BBC drama 2010). In 2010, actor Julian Glover played a 101-year-old Polish veteran RAF pilot in the short film Battle for Britain.
How did Keith Park's tactics affect the Battle of 11 Group?
The weight of the battle fell upon 11 Group. Keith Park's tactics were to dispatch individual squadrons to intercept raids. The intention was to subject incoming bombers to continual attacks by relatively small numbers of fighters and try to break up the tight German formations. Once formations had fallen apart, stragglers could be picked off one by one. Where multiple squadrons reached a raid the procedure was for the slower Hurricanes to tackle the bombers while the more agile Spitfires held up the fighter escort. This ideal was not always achieved, resulting in occasions when Spitfires and Hurricanes reversed roles. Park also issued instructions to his units to engage in frontal attacks against the bombers, which were more vulnerable to such attacks. Again, in the environment of fast-moving, three-dimensional air battles, few RAF fighter units were able to attack the bombers from head-on.
What was Hitler's strategy for the Battle of Britain?
In a secret conference on 23 May 1939, Hitler set out his rather contradictory strategy that an attack on Poland was essential and "will only be successful if the Western Powers keep out of it. If this is impossible, then it will be better to attack in the West and to settle Poland at the same time" with a surprise attack. "If Holland and Belgium are successfully occupied and held, and if France is also defeated, the fundamental conditions for a successful war against England will have been secured. England can then be blockaded from Western France at close quarters by the Air Force, while the Navy with its submarines extend the range of the blockade."
What aircraft was used to defend London?
The aircraft defending London that day were spearheaded by the Supermarine Spitfire, an iconic single-seat fighter plane which had only entered service a few months before the start of World War Two.
How did the Battle of Britain help Europe?
The Battle of Britain prevented Germany from invading and occupying Great Britain, eventually meaning that Europe could be liberated. Hurricanes served in the Blitz as night fighters, directed to their targets by radio operators on the ground and on the pilot’s own keen eyesight. They helped prevent the vital Mediterranean island of Malta from being invaded. In the deserts of North Africa they served as ground attack aircraft, being much better suited to the rough conditions than the more fragile Spitfires.
How many women pilots are left in the UK?
There are only two of the women pilots left in the UK.”. The ATA’s women pilots included the aviation pioneer Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia. She drowned in the Thames Estuary after parachuting out of a plane she was delivering for the ATA that had run out of fuel.
How many ships were refitted in the Sea Hurricane?
There was only one problem – it was a one-way mission, as there was nowhere to land the aircraft. More than 30 ships were refitted, and several were launched in combat. Incredibly, despite the challenges of ditching a small plane into rough, freezing seas, only one Sea Hurricane pilot was killed in combat.
What was the last time a force this powerful had threatened England?
The last time a force this powerful had threatened England was the Spanish Armada, 500 years before. The aircraft defending London that day were spearheaded by the Supermarine Spitfire, an iconic single-seat fighter plane which had only entered service a few months before the start of World War Two.
What happened in the early afternoon?
During the early afternoon, British radar observers hunched over their screens started seeing something massive taking shape. From airfields across France, wave after wave of German bombers and fighters took to the air, forming up into one enormous formation over the English Channel.
How many aircraft were involved in the 7 September raid?
The 7 September raid marked the first time in history 1,000 aircraft had taken part in an air raid (two-thirds of them were fighters protecting the bombers). London’s docks and the working-class neighbourhoods of the East End were devastated.
How many Spitfires were used in the movie?
Twelve airworthy Spitfires where used in the production of the film, along with seven taxiing examples and seven used as static aircraft to dress the set. A number of full scale replicas where used as static and taxiing aircraft.
What was Hurricane MkIIC used for?
Hurricane MkIIc (LF751) was acquired by the production team and was used as a mould for the replica Hurricanes to dress the set and did not itself appear in the film. These non flying replicas included some that where fitted with motorcycle engines and able to taxi.
When did the D variant reach the front line?
Despite the D variant reached the front line unit only at the end of 1941, some radio controled model could be seen; for example when one of them crashed into a radar tower.#N#(screenshot needed - in the mean time, data from a forum )
Who made the Heinkel He 111?
Spannish production under licence of german bomber Heinkel He 111. Built by CASA and re-powered after war with Rolls-Royce engines.
What aircraft did Edwards fly?
Shown is Edwards with his rare two seat Me-109. This Supermarine Spitfire actually flew in the Battle of Britain. Edwards received the aircraft as payment for his participation for flying in the 1969 movie Battle of Britain.
Where were the fighters from the Battle of Britain movie sold?
The rare fighters from the 1969 Battle of Britain movie have been sold to restorers in the United States and Europe, according to the agent handling the sale.
How much did Edwards pay for the planes?
Edwards unapologetically set high prices totaling more than $15 million for the Battle of Britain airplanes and absolutely refused to negotiate. Brown said the tactic worked.
Why did Edwards get the P-51?
This North American P-51 was payment for Connie's flying for the Nicaraguan government in their Civil War.
What was Edwards' single seat Messerschmitt Bf-109 used for?
Shown is Edwards' single-seat Messerschmitt Bf-109, taken as payment for Connie's involvement in the 1969 movie Battle of Britain. Shown is Edwards' single-seat Messerschmitt Bf-109, taken as payment for Connie's involvement in the 1969 movie Battle of Britain.
Where will the Mark IX Spitfire return?
An original Mark IX Spitfire that actually flew in the real Battle of Britain is the jewel of the fleet and will return to England . Six Buchons (Bf-109s built under license in Spain) will go to a collector in Europe.
Who was the pilot of the movie "Tex"?
Edwards had intended to give the movie airplanes to his son, Wilson Connell “ Tex” Edwards, but the younger man was killed in a traffic accident about one year ago.
Why were the planes painted so accurately?
The planes were so accurately painted that camouflage couldn’t be seen against the ground or sky. To compensate, they tried to film with clouds in the background. 3. Many of the extras had been actual victims of the Blitz.
How many Bf 109s were retired?
about 50 The Messerschmitt Bf 109s retired from the Spanish Air Force (17 airworthy) – These were actually all purchased by the production company
What year was the 35th largest air force?
1. 1969 ’s Battle of Britain’s aircraft collection created the 35th largest air force in the world. about 50 The Messerschmitt Bf 109s retired from the Spanish Air Force (17 airworthy) – These were actually all purchased by the production company.
How many kills did the ace have?
He was a top ace with 104 kills and a reputation for bravery. Apparently, he was often at odd with Goring about how to handle air combat. Having himself fought in the Battle of Britain, he was hired as the film adaptation’s technical advisor.
Is Battle of Britain still a good WWII movie?
Though not well received at the time thanks to anti-war sentiments, the 1969 film Battle of Britain is still widely regarded as one of the best WWII films of all time. When you look at the care that went into the making of this film, it’s easy to see why. Check out these 7 mind-blowing facts from behind-the-scenes:
Is Duxford Airfield a museum?
Today Duxford Airfield is a famous museum, but during the making of the movie, they agreed to let one of their decaying hangars be destroyed.
Hawker Hurricane
Supermarine Spitfire
Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 110
Boulton Paul Defiant
Fiat CR.42
- The Fiat CR.42 was an older Italian fighter used by the Corpo Aereo Italiano. They made only one mission during the Battle of Britain, a raid on Ramsgate, as the biplanes were not equal to modern fighters. On 11 November 1940, four CR.42s were shot down by Hurricanes without losing a craft. The Luftwaffe had difficulty even flying in formation with...
Dornier Do 17
Junkers Ju 88
Heinkel He 111
Fiat BR.20
Overview
Opposing forces
The Luftwaffe faced a more capable opponent than any it had previously met: a sizeable, highly coordinated, well-supplied, modern air force.
The Luftwaffe's Messerschmitt Bf 109E and Bf 110C fought against the RAF's workhorse Hurricane Mk I and the less numerous Spitfire Mk I; Hurricanes outnumbered Spitfires in RAF Fighter Command by about 2:1 when war broke …
Background
Luftwaffe strategy
RAF strategy
Phases of the battle
Attrition statistics
Propaganda