Aircraft:Target for Today
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Allies
Royal Air Force
- Avro Lancaster
- Avro Manchester
- Fairey Swordfish
- Gloster Gladiator
- Hawker Hurricane
- Supermarine Spitfire
USAAF
Axis
Luftwaffe
History of the Luftwaffe during World War II
At the outset of the war, the Luftwaffe was one of the most modern, powerful, and experienced air forces in the world, dominating the skies over Europe with aircraft much more advanced than their initial counterparts. The Luftwaffe was central to the German Blitzkrieg (lightning war) doctrine, as the close air support provided by medium two-engine bombers (Do 17, He 111, Ju 88) , Ju 87 dive bombers and an overwhelming force of tactical fighters were key to several early successes. The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka was a main asset for Blitzkrieg, able to place bombs with deadly accuracy.
In the autumn of 1940, the Luftwaffe could not defeat the British RAF in the Battle of Britain over the skies of England. With the begin of "Unternehmen Barbarossa", the German attack on the Soviet Union, most units were transferred to the Eastern Front. Only JG 2 and JG 26 remained in France.
Following the military failures on the Eastern Front, from 1943 onwards, the Luftwaffe went into a steady, gradual decline that saw it outnumbered and overwhelmed by the sheer number of Allied aircraft being deployed against it. Towards the end of the war, the Luftwaffe was no longer a major factor, and despite fielding advanced aircraft like the Messerschmitt Me 262 and Me 163, was crippled by fuel shortages and a lack of trained pilots.
aircraft
- Arado 196
- Arado 234
- Dornier Do 17
- Dornier Do 217
- Dornier Do 335
- Fieseler Fi 156
- Focke-Wulf Fw 190
- Focke-Wulf Fw 200
- Focke-Wulf Ta 152
- Heinkel He 111
- Heinkel He 177
- Junkers Ju 52
- Junkers Ju 87
- Junkers Ju 88
- Junkers Ju 188
- Messerschmitt Bf 109
- Messerschmitt Bf 110
- Messerschmitt Me 163
- Messerschmitt Me 262
Regia Aeronautica
One of the least well documented episodes of the Battle of Britain concerns the activities of Corpo Aereo Italiano (CAI) when during the late stage of the battle the Regia Aeronautica was instructed to establish a force in Belgium to assist in operations against the British.It is not easy to see what the Italian high Command hoped this would achieve other than to boost home moral. Participation of the Regia Aeronautica at the end of the Battle of Britain was viewed as a political necessity - yet it was unwanted by the German High Command. Formed by the transfer of existing unit CAI came into being on 10 September 1940, under the aegis of 1a Squadra Aerea di Milano. Generale sa (Air Marshal) Rino Corso-Fougier was made Air Officer Commanding. He was reputed to be a brilliant officer and pilot, but his only recent war experience was the short lived campaign when Italy invaded the south of France. There where three Stormi (roughly a RAF Wing). Two of these were bombers and were the striking force, self-protection being provided by the fighter Stormo. With the transport element (twelve Caproni 133Ts, one Savoia-Marchetti S.75, with nine Ca164s for communications) a force of some two hundred aircraft. 18° Gruppo CT was re-assigned from 3° Stormo after having taken part in the attack on southern France and equipped with new aircraft. 20° Gruppo CT was re-assigned from 51° Stormo and was initially equipped with 45 Fiat G.50bis. During the preparation stage, details were particularly taken care of in order to make a good impression on the German ally. A number of modifications were made to the equipment and a special grey-blue uniform was created for the troop, eliminating knickerbockers and puttees of World War 1 vintage. In march 1941 20° C.T. was based near Bolougne, under the command of JG51 of Werner Moelders. Between 18.04 and 30.04.1941 the 20° CT transfered to the Balcan front. the Balcan campaign ended on 30.04.41, and the unit moved to Lybia, still equipped with G.50.
aircraft
