The Battle of Britain was a major air campaign fought during World War II between the British Royal Air Force (or RAF) and the German Luftwaffe, the aerial warfare branch of the Wehrmacht. The battle took place between July and October 1940 and involved the defence of the United Kingdom against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany. In this article, I will show you the main aircraft used by both sides during the Battle of Britain.
What was the Battle of Britain and Who Participated?
The Battle of Britain was, as mentioned above, a major air campaign that took place during the Second World War. The battle began as a German attempt to gain air superiority over Britain in preparation for a planned invasion. This atemp was actually codenamed Operation Sealion and saw the Luftwaffe launch a series of air attacks on British airfields, radar stations, and other infrastructure. Civilian targets such as cities and ports were also planned and executed.
Before the Battle of Britain, the Germans had overwhelmed France and the Low Countries, leaving the country to face a potentially imminent invasion by sea. Anticipating the difficulties of such a campaign (and seeing that the Royal Navy controlled both the North Sea and the English Channel), Hitler ordered the preparation of this operation to combine an amphibious and airborne attack. In response to the attacks from the Luftwaffe, Prime Minister Winston Churchill deployed Britain’s own air force to engage the Germans in the skies over southern England.
What Makes the Battle of Britain So Special?
Although the RAF was outnumbered and outgunned, they were able to use their superior aircraft technology and effective tactics to hold off the German attacks – forcing the Germans to abandon their invasion plans and turn their attention to other theatres of the war.
The Battle of Britain was a crucial turning point in the war and is remembered as one of the most significant symbols of British resistance and determination in the face of overwhelming odds. It also marked the first time in history that a significant military campaign was fought entirely in the air.
The Most Iconic Aircraft of the Battle of Britain
The complete list of aircraft flown during the Battle of Britain is rather extensive, so let’s start by listing the most popular aircraft used by both sides in this conflict. We’ll start with the British and then move on to the German choices.
Battle of Britain: British Aircraft
These were the preferred aircraft used by the British during the Battle of Britain:
The Supermarine Spitfire
German aircraft defeated: 656
The Supermarine Spitfire was probably the most iconic aircraft of the conflict – and one of the most popular ones for aircraft enthusiasts around the world to this day. This single-seat fighter was designed by Reginald Mitchell and had one unique advantage: Its airframe was made entirely of metal. This meant that it was faster and more responsive than the already impressive Hawker Hurricane, and could confront the German Messerschmitt Bf 109. The first Spitfire entered service in August 1938 with the No. 19 Squadron at Duxford and, by September 1940, there were already 18 other ones using them.
The Hawker Hurricane
German aircraft defeated: 529
The Hawker Hurricane had equipped 33 squadrons by September 1940. This aircraft had what’s considered a traditional design: A wooden frame covered in fabric that was a derivation of previous biplanes. Despite numerous improvements, though, the Hurricane was a rather out of date for the conflict (at least compared to its German counterparts). However, it had one crucial advantage over the Supermarine Spitfire: It could be easily maintained and repaired. This is why, during the Battle of Britain, squadrons of Hurricanes were sent to deal with enemy bombers while Spitfores dealt with their escorts made of fighters.
The Boulton Paul Defiant
The Boulton Paul Defiant was a two-seat fighter aircraft that featured a four-gun power-operated turret. There were disadvantages to the Defiant: The first was that the plane had no armament that could fire forward, so it couldn’t take down German enemy aircraft from behind. The second was that the turret fighter was quite heavy, which made the aircraft sluggish. As a result, the Defiant was vulnerable; two separate squadrons (141 and 264) were massacred in July and august, and after that the aircraft played no further part in the Battle of Britain.
The Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a light bomber, night fighter aircraft also used for aerial reconnaissance. During the Battle of Britain, many Blenheims were modified into long-range fighters. By 1939, there were at least seven squadrons operating them (and a few months later, this number had grown to 60). Unfortunately, Bristol Blenheims proved to be less nimble and slower than other aircraft, which led to many daylight losses. That’s when the aicraft was relegated to a night fighter, particularly with the No. 23 Squadron RAF.
The Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Beaufighter was introduced in 1940-41 to supplant the slower and worse-armed Bristol Blenheim. At first, these aircraft were delivered in standard day fighter camouflage (even though they were intended for night fighting). The night operations began to take place in September and October 1940, with a Bristol Beaufighter, equipped with an AI radar and flown by Flt Lt. John Cunningham, downing a Junkers Ju 88.
More WW2 British Aircraft
Airspeed Horsa
The Airspeed AS.51 Horsa was a British troop-carrying glider developed and manufactured by Airspeed and used during the Second World War.
Airspeed AS.4 Ferry
The Airspeed AS.4 Ferry was a three-engined ten-seat biplane airliner designed and built in the United Kingdom by Airspeed Limited.
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet engine and the only one used by the Allies during the Second World War.
Airspeed AS.5 Courier
The Airspeed AS.5 Courier was a six-seat single-engined aircraft designed and produced by British manufacturer Airspeed Limited.
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
The Airspeed Oxford was a British twin-engine monoplane aircraft used throughout the Second World War for training, bombing, and gunnery.
Battle of Britain: German Aircraft
These were the preferred aircraft used by the German Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain:
Messerschmitt Bf 109
British aircraft defeated: 650
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was considered by many the best fighter of the Second World War, particularly during the Battle of Britain. At high altitudes, the Bf 109 was faster than the Supermarine Spitfire and had more armament (two machine guns and two cannons). Another advantage of the Luftwaffe over the RAF was that the Bf 109 pilots had more combat experience, too. That is, at least at the onset of the conflict. However, there was one essential downside: The Messerschmitt 109 couldn’t fly beyond London as it had a limited range.
Messerschmitt Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110 was initially designed as a long-range heavy escort fighter or destroyer (Zerstörer in German). Thus, it had lower manoeuvrability, but it was also better armed than many counterparts. As the RAF fighter aircraft were more nimble, the Messerschmitt Bf 110 was soon considered a liability and the Luftwaffe had to send Messerschmitt Bf 109s to accompany then. Still, the Bf 110 was frequently used for low-level attacks of British RAF fields and factories.
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was one of the Luftwaffe’s earlier bombers and an important participant during the Battle of Britain. However, it was slow and poorly armed and considered obsolete by 1940. The germans tried to increase its defensive armament but the He 111 still proved vulnerable against the RAF fighters. On the other hand, though, because it was such a sturdy machine, it could take the damage and still manage to return to base (something that happened many times during the Battle of Britain).
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a fast medium-bomber and one of the most modern aircraft in the year 1940. The aircraft had been originally designed as a medium bomber, but Ernst Udet, deputy to Hermann Göring, demanded the Ju 88 be made capable of dive-bombing. In order to comply with this request, the plane had to go through massive structural changes that increased the Ju 88’s weight and decreased its performance (not to mention the change delayed production, too). As a result, during the Battle of Britain, the Junkers Ju 88 became as vulnerable as other bombers.
Dornier Do 17
The Dornier Do 17 (also referred to as “the flying pencil”) was not originally designed as a bomber but rather converted to one from a high-speed mail plane. As its production guidelines changed, the Do 17 became a part of the Luftwaffe by joining three bomber wings. This light aircraft could only carry 1,000 kilograms of bombs and had a limited range, and was nimble at low altitudes. Because their defensive armament was weak, their production was terminated in the summer of 1940.
More WW2 German Aircraft
Heinkel He 177 Greif
Heinkel He 177 (Grief or Griffin) was a long-range heavy bomber aircraft flown by the Luftwaffe during World War II.
Dornier Do 217
The Dornier Do 217 was a German bomber used by the German Luftwaffe during WW2 and a more powerful development of the Dornier Do 17.
Henschel Hs 123
The Henschel Hs 123 was a single-seat biplane dive bomber and close-support aircraft flown by the Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War WW2.
Focke-Wulf Fw 187 Falke
The Focke-Wulf Fw 187 Falke was a German aircraft conceived as a twin-engine, high-performance fighter. The Luftwaffe never used it.
Henschel Hs 129
The Henschel Hs 129 was a round-attack aircraft fielded by the German Luftwaffe and used in Tunisia and on the Eastern Front.
