RAF front line strength, 1939-45

[Alejandro_]

I would like to know if there are any data regarding the front line strength of the RAF between 1939 and 45. The idea is to make a few graphs like the one below, with number of aircraft and corresponding period. If someone could give me the reference of an AIR archive it would be great:

First line aircraft deployed against Germany by USAAF between 1942-45:





Different fighter strength in Fighter Command:



Similar sources for Luftwaffe, Fighter Command and USAAF:

- http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/do ... 08-042.pdf
- AIR 40/1207: The German Air Force: first line strength at three monthly intervals during the European War 1939-1945.
- AIR 16/1036: Monthly operational summaries of Fighter Command, ADGB, 2nd TAF

[paspartoo]

I got these from an email to the RAF museum.Unfortunately there's not much i can do since i live in another country,maybe u could visit the archives and share information.

AIR 22/31 to 49
AIR 8/1778 RAF state of readiness: comparisons of strengths 1939-1951

[Saxon Cross]

Here's some RAF info by squadron:

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/ ... -may45.jpg

But don't forget to add the Fleet Air Arm:

http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Research/

Here's some LW info:

http://www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/flugbew.htm

[Carl Schwamberger]

Ellis in 'Brute Force' gives summaries of both production and front line strength, but only in annual & six month increments.

[Alejandro_]

Thanks for the answers. Parsifal -at ww2aircraft.net- has supplied me with these figures:

9/39: 1660
8/40: 2913
6/41: 3106
12/41: 4287
12/42: 5257
6/43: 6026
12/43 6646
6/44; 8339
12/44: 8395
4/45: ca8000

From: World War II: A Statistical Survey: The Essential Facts and Figures for All the Combatants, by Ellis. This is the same author Carl Schwamberger has mentioned.

AIR 22/31 to 49
AIR 8/1778 RAF state of readiness: comparisons of strengths 1939-1951

Thanks, I will try to have a look next time I go.

[Alejandro_]

Last Saturday I went to the National Archives and had a look at the reports. AIR 22/31 is rather as book with daily strength data, not only for aircraft but also balloons. AIR 8/1778 contains a nice summary for RAF strength at the start of the war:

Strength of the RAF on 31st August 1939:

Metropolitan Air Force

- Fighter: 773.
- Bomber: 1.313
- Torpedo Bomber: 30
- Army Co-operation: 132
- General Reconaissance (landplane): 261
- General Reconaissance (Flying boat): 64
- Total: 2573

Overseas:

- Fighter: 143
- Bomber: 344
- Bomber transport: 44
- Torpedo Bomber: 36
- Army Co-operation: 78
- G.R. Flying boat: 32
- Total: 677

Grand total: 3250

[JonS]

The books "Aircraft for the Few" and "Aircraft for the Many" will each give you a VERY detailed snaphot at a point in time.

Fun Fact: in "Aircraft for the Many"it will be seen that the RAF still held a number of Gloster Gladiators on operational strength, in the UK, on 6 June 1944!

[phylo_roadking]

Strength of the RAF on 31st August 1939:

Metropolitan Air Force

- Fighter: 773.
- Bomber: 1.313
- Torpedo Bomber: 30
- Army Co-operation: 132
- General Reconaissance (landplane): 261
- General Reconaissance (Flying boat): 64
- Total: 2573

This figure of 773...as noted before is around about the maximum that Fighter Command's command-and-control system was designed to actually manage in Home Defence It didn't rise through 1939/40 into the BoB - but the total availability figures did, with excess being stored in the Satellite Landing Grounds.

[Alejandro_]

This figure of 773...as noted before is around about the maximum that Fighter Command's command-and-control system was designed to actually manage in Home Defence.

Indeed, the operational strength in September 1939 was lower:

Operational strength of aircraft by Commands

Fighter Command as at 18:00, 10th September
Group 11: 48 Blenheim, 36 Spitfire, 6 Gladiators. 110 Hurricanes.
Group 12: 12 Blenheim, 33 Spitfire, 57 Hurricanes.
Group 13: 12 Blenheim, 35 Spitfire, 24 Gladiators.
Total: 373.

Bomber Command as at 18:00, 10th September

A.A.S.F: 147 Battles.
No 2. Group: 85 Blenheim.
No 3. Group: 59 Wellingtons.
No 4. Group: 48 Whitleys.
No 5. Group: 75 Hampdens
No 6. Group: Not given
Total: 414

Coastal Command as at 18:00, 10th September

No 15 Group: 9 ansons, 6 Sunderlands.
No 16 Group: 54 Ansons, 24 Vildebeestes.
No 18 Group: 54 Ansons, 9 Londons, 6 Stranraer, 9 Hudsons.
Total: 171

AIR 22/31 War Room Daily Strength Returns Sep-Dec 39

Fun Fact: in "Aircraft for the Many"it will be seen that the RAF still held a number of Gloster Gladiators on operational strength, in the UK, on 6 June 1944!

Thanks for these recommendations JonS.

[phylo_roadking]

Remember that while the aircraft of the AASF count as being on the strength of Bomber Command wherever they were....its creation and the creation of the "BEF Air Element" ALSO took fighters from the Fighter Command roster and put them in France.