![]() He was a superb shot and a great tactician. Such close formation flying heritage hampered the RAF fighter pilots for much of the Battle.Īdolph Gysbert Malan, better known as Sailor Malan, was a South African fighter pilot who took part in some of the most hectic fighting during the Battle of Britain. ![]() To show the crowds just how precise their flying was the aircraft are tied together by ribbon strips. These three Gladiator fighters, from No 87 Squadron, are practicing for the Empire Air Day at RAF Debden, 1938. The RAF prided itself on it quality of its formation flying. With the adoption of more open formations the RAF denied the Luftwaffe total success. Once combat was joined it rarely remained so clinically divided. They believed that the Hurricanes could do this while the Spitfire could deal with the German fighters. A side effect of this would be that the RAF had to respond to such attacks and in the resulting ‘dog fights’ the experienced and seasoned German fighter pilots could decimate the ranks of RAF Fighter Command.įor the British the aim was to deny the Luftwaffe the freedom of action by attacking the incoming raids, get through the protective screen of fighters, and destroy the bombers. The Germans needed to get sufficient bombers to the targets so that they could inflict crippling damage. The key players in this battle were the fighter pilots. For the attacker the task was to inflict sufficient damage on the enemy to bring about his defeat while for the defender it was to destroy enough of the attacking force to make it impossible for the campaign to continue. The belief that the bomber will always get through pervaded all military thinking at the time. “He who has the height controls the battle. ![]()
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