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.
How many Spitfires were lost in the Battle of Britain?
Spitfires shot down a total of 529 enemy aircraft, for a loss of 230 of their own. The Hurricane was the most numerous of RAF Fighter Command’s aircraft during the Battle of Britain, equipping 33 squadrons by September 1940.
Who shot down the most planes in the Battle of Britain?
In just 42 days 303 Squadron shot down 126 German planes, becoming the most successful Fighter Command unit in the Battle of Britain. Nine of the Squadron’s pilots qualified as ‘aces’ for shooting down 5 or more enemy planes, including Sergeant Josef Frantisek, a Czech flying with the Poles who scored 17 downed planes.
How many RAF pilots died in the Battle of Britain?
Both sides suffered heavy losses during the Battle of Britain – 544 pilots , which was about one in six, from RAF Fighter Command were killed and 2,500 Luftwaffe airmen lost their lives.
How many pilots did Britain have in the Battle of Britain?
Nearly 3,000 men of the RAF took part in the Battle of Britain – those who Winston Churchill called ‘The Few’. While most of the pilots were British, Fighter Command was an international force.
Who really won the Battle of Britain?
In the event, the battle was won by the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command , whose victory not only blocked the possibility of invasion but also created the conditions for Great Britain’s survival, for the extension of the war, and for the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.
Which British plane shot down the most planes in ww2?
It equipped four squadrons and during the winter Blitz on London of 1940–41, Defiants shot down more enemy aircraft than any other type.
Were there any American pilots in the Battle of Britain?
In total, nine American citizens fought during the Battle of Britain. The best known of the US pilots who fought was Pilot Officer William ‘Billy’ Fiske, a Cambridge graduate and a member of the US Winter Olympic bobsleigh teams of 1928 and 1932. ... Fiske died of his wounds the following day.
Which pilot shot down the most planes in ww2?
While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills.
Who is the greatest pilot of all time?
1. Erich “Bubi” Hartmann . Erich Hartmann is the most successful fighter pilot of all times – with 352 kills. A number that will never be surpassed.
Are any ww2 Spitfire pilots still alive?
Flight Lieutenant William Clark, 100 , and Flying Officer John Hemingway, 100, are now the only surviving members of The Few.
Is Luftwaffe better than RAF?
The RAF proved to be a better combat force than the Luftwaffe in almost every respect. The decisive factors were British capability and determination, but German mistakes, before and during the battle, contributed significantly to the outcome. ... German pilots honed their skills in the Spanish Civil War.
What was the average age of a pilot in the Battle of Britain?
The defence of Britain during the Battle of Britain depended on the courage of just 2,937 British and Allied aircrew. The average age of the Battle of Britain pilots was just 20 years old .
Which country has best fighter pilots?
| Position Country | 1 – Germany | 2 – Poland | 3 – Czech Republic | 4 – Great Britain |
|---|
What would happen if Britain lost the battle of Britain?
The stakes
But any invasion required air superiority, and that meant defeating Britain’s air force. If Britain lost the battle, and Germany was able to manufacture a successful invasion and capitulation, then the last realistic launchpad for the liberation of Europe would be gone.
Could Germany have won the battle of Britain?
Germany’s Luftwaffe could have won the Battle of Britain if they had attacked earlier and focused on bombing airfields, a new study has suggested. ... Mathematical simulations show how the shift in tactics could have lowered the British chance of victory from 50% to just 10% in battles against Germany’s air forces.
