RAF NARRATIVE
THE AIR DEFENCE OF GREAT BRITAIN
NIGHT AIR DEFENCE JUNE, 1940 - DECEMBER, 1941
CHAPTER 1. BACKGROUND TO THE BATTLE
Attack as the Best Form of Defence.
Problem of continuous and accurate location of the enemy –
Problems of early detection, inland tracking and height finding -
Problem of engagement in darkness – Gunner equipment made
to fire at ‘seen’ targets – Fixed Azimuth system – the Radar
system – Other weaknesses in the night defences – Development
of specialised night defences.
The Character of our Defences.
Inadequacy of searchlights – Investigations to improve the night
Defences – Plans for the provision of defences.
The German Minelaying Campaign by Night.
(Winter 1939 to Spring 1940)
Problems of intercepting minelaying aircraft – Early attempts at
Interception using AI – Failure of the AI experiment.
CHAPTER 2. BACKGROUND TO THE BATTLE
The Functioning of the Defences.
Raid Intelligence – The Observer Corps – Air raid warnings –
Plotting – The machinery of interception – Co-operation
between Fighter Command and AA Command –
The Role of the German Air Force before the Night Battle.
The German Night Flying Organisation.
Enemy Blind Bombing and Navigational Aids.
Organisation of Counter-Measures.
CHAPTER 3. THE EXPLORATORY PHASE: 6th JUNE to 7th SEPTEMBER, 1940
Consequences of the German Victory in Europe.
Operations Between 6th June and 30th June, 1940.
Distribution of attack – New policy of air-raid warnings –
The Fighter Command re-action to enemy operations.
Policy for the Expansion of the Air Defences.
Operations Between 1st July and 10th August, 1940.
Claims by Fighter and Gun defences – Summary of enemy
intentions.
Operations Between 10th August and 7th September, 1940.
Commencement of major attacks – Our failure to appreciate
enemy intentions – Prolonged warnings through nuisance
raids – Increasing scale of attack.
CHAPTER 4. THE FIRST MAIN PHASE: 7/8th SEPTEMBER to
13/14th NOVEMBER 1940
The attack on London Opens.
The Night Battle is Joined. 7/8th September, 1940.
Enquiry into Failure of Defences by Salmond Committee.
The Kenley Experiment.
Summary of the First Main Phase
Analysis of a Typical German Air Force Night Raid of the Period.
German Plan of attack – Units Participating – Tonnage of
bombs dropped – Subsidiary raids – Tonnage of bombs
dropped on London – The progress of the attack – Enemy
comments on our defences – Defensive activity: analysis of
claims – Details of damage caused – Details of subsidiary
attacks – Conclusions.
CHAPTER 5. THE SECOND PHASE: 14/15th NOVEMBER, 1940 to
19/20th FEBRUARY, 1941.
War on Industry and Ports.
Analysis of the Raid on Coventry. 14/15th November, 1940
Timing of the raid – Part played by Luftflotte 3 –
Tonnage of bombs dropped – Course of the attack –
Assignment of specific targets – Fighter Command
patrols – AA claims – Consequences of the raid –
Conclusion.
Progress in Fighter Command and in AA Command.
Summary of the Second Phase.
CHAPTER 6. THE THIRD PHASE: 19/20th FEBRUARY to 12th MAY, 1941
War on Ports
Fighter Command Measures to Meet the Attack on Ports.
AA Command Measures to Meet the Attack on Ports.
Attacks on Shipping at Night: The Minelaying Campaign
Air War at sea.
Summary of the Part Played by the Night Defences.
Analytical Summary of the Night Battle.
(7/8th September, 1940 to 11/12th May, 1941)
The Fighter defences – AA Guns and Searchlights –
The enemy.
CHAPTER 7. ACTIVITY FROM 12th MAY to 31st DECEMBER, 1941
Air War at Sea: Reshuffle of German Forces.
The Enemy’s New Policy.
Summary of Raids Between 12th May and 31st December, 1941.
General Activity.
Summary of Developments in Fighter Command and AA Command.
1. Summary of damage to Key Points. (1940 and 1941).
2. Noteworthy Minor Raids in which Key Points were affected. (January to May, 1941).
3. Distribution of Raids in 1941 showing chief areas of damage.
4. Major attacks on British Targets (Compiled from German Records). (August, 1940 to June, 1941).
5. Distribution of German night attack (in terms of Major Raids). (August, 1940 to July, 1941).
6. Notable Raids on Towns in relation to Moon Periods. (1941).
7. Attacks on the British Isles in 1941 (Compiled from German Records).
8. GAF Effort. Casualties claimed by Night.
9. Notes on Minor Raids.
10. German Long Range Bomber Strength in the West.
11. Night Interception.
12. ‘Starfish’. Operations in 1941.
13. GCI – Progress in Installation.
14. Intruder Patrols. (December, 1940 to December, 1941).
15. The Attack and Defence of Coastwise Shipping. (November, 1940 to December, 1941).
16. AWAS Estimates. Weight of Bombs dropped on Great Britain by Night (HE and IB).
17. Analysis of an attack on Liverpool. (12/13th March, 1941).
18. Fighter Command – Order of Battle of Night Fighters.
19. Function of Night Operations Staff at Headquarters, Fighter Command.
20. Fighter Command Operational Instructions.
of the various British and enemy sources available.
These especially include:
Luftkrieg gegen England:
Anlage zum Gefechtskalender, a record kept by the Germans
Historical and Archives Branch – Abteilung 8.
Fuhrungsabteilung Gruppe Ic which comprise the daily
intelligence summaries of Luftlotte 3.
Luftwaffe Fuhrungsstab Ic III/A – a series of maps showing
tonnages of bombs dropped on Britain in Major Raids.
Records of Strength kept by the German Historical and
Archives Branch – Abteilung 8.
Air Warfare Analysis Section Figures.
Figures in the Fighter Command Records, Appendices etc.
|
AHB IIA/1/7 ADGB file folio 23, also H A Jones, ‘The War in the Air’ Ibid Vol.2 folios 89, 23 ‘The War in the Air’ Vol.5 p.159
Home Defence Committee Paper No. 220, 9 Feb 1937 AHB ADGB Vol 2 Folio 89 DPR Committee Paper No 2 DPR Committee Paper No. 2 HCTD S/212 14 May 1937 AHB/IIH1/18 Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding: ‘Battle of Britain’ 234 DPR Committee Paper 189 AHB/IIH/93 Encl.1A 19 March 1938 CSSAD 9th Meeting CSSAD 23rd, 27th, 33rd Meetings
AHB/IIH1/18 Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding ‘Battle of Britain’ 215 CSSAD 26 Nov, 1937 AHB/11H/148 Encl.36 3 July1939 AHB/IIH/240/4/121 FC/S.21197 3 Nov. 1940 Encl.2019 and FC/S.22104 3 Dec. 1940 “The Battle of Britain” 33 etc AHB/IIA/240/4/126(A) FC/S.16806 2 Dec. 1939 Encl.19A. FC/S.22104 The AOC-in-C Fighter Command AA Command’s Despatch Section III Para. 44 et seq. Ibid 58
AOC-in-C Fighter Command Night Interception Report FC S22104 8 Dec. 1940
Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding ‘The Battle of Britain’ p.46 AHB/IIH1/18 Ibid FIU Report No. 80 FC Operational Instruction No. 90 AHB/IIH1/18 Dowding: Despatch ‘Battle of Britain’ 233
FC/S.15329 28 April 1939 FC/S.16638 10 July 1939 IVA/16 18 Sept. 1940
AHB/IIH1/18 Dowding Despatch “Battle of Britain” 232 S.3867 2 March 1940
CID 283rd Meeting 29 Oct. 1936 COS (40) 320 4 May 1940 |