Geoffrey Sinclair
2014-10-31 14:41:19 UTC
On 1 January 1935 the RAF had 14 fighter squadrons based in Britain,
11 were based around London, 2 were near Portsmouth, about 60 miles
south west of London and 1 was at Duxford, outside Cambridge, about
40 miles north of London, the squadrons were based at a total of 8
airfields.
Air Defence Great Britain commanded all home based bombers and
fighters, with the Fighting Area having the fighter units.
On 31 December 1940 there were a nominal 78 squadrons, including
2 RCAF, under the command of 6 groups, based all over the United
Kingdom.
This study is a squadron count, no attempt is made to find the actual
strength in the squadrons or whether they were operational or not. With
the needs of expansion and combat squadrons were often below full
strength and with squadrons splitting to form new ones, with new ones
being raised and new types of aircraft being delivered all squadrons
were non operational at one time or another between January 1935
and December 1940.
There were no changes to the command arrangements in 1935,
number 11 Group was formed on 20 May 1936 by renaming
Fighting Area.
On 13 July 1936 Air Defence Great Britain was disbanded, the
next day Fighter Command was formed.
Number 12 Group was formed on 1 April 1937, it took command
the fighters in Northern England and Wales later that year, taking
the units from 11 Group.
Number 13 Group was formed on 24 July 1939, taking over the
fighters in Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland from
12 Group.
Number 14 Group was formed in France on 20 January 1940 to
command the RAF Component fighter squadrons, it was disbanded
in May 1940. It was reformed on 1 August 1940 and in November
took over fighter units in Northern Scotland from 13 Group.
Number 10 Group was formed on 15 June 1940 and in early July
took over the fighters in south west England and south Wales
from 11 Group.
Number 9 Group was formed on 9 August 1940 and in November
took over the fighters in northern Wales and the western Midlands
from 12 Group.
Also in January/February 1940 Coastal Command took over 4
Blenheim fighter squadrons from Fighter Command, these are
still counted here as at least 1 was seconded back to Fighter
Command for a time during the Battle of Britain.
On 1 January 1935 the RAF had 5 special reserve squadrons,
numbers 500 to 504 and 8 Auxiliary Air Force squadrons, numbers
600 to 605, 607 and 608, of these 9 were designated as bomber
and 4 as Army Co-Operation units but by the start of the war 10
had been reorganised as fighter units and another, 608 squadron,
was also changed to a fighter unit but in March1939 became a
General Reconnaissance formation while the remaining two
squadrons simply became General Reconnaissance.
Another 7 Auxiliary squadrons were formed between 1936 and
1939, numbers 609 to 615 squadrons, as 3 bomber and 4 Army
Co-Operation, the bomber squadrons became fighter units as
did one of the Army Co-Operation. Only the units that became
fighters are included below.
Finally just to confuse things a little 503 squadron was renamed
616 in November 1938.
So in fact none of the mid to late 1930's reserve bomber units
ended up as bombers.
The reserve units complicate mapping the expansion of the
fighter defences, as for example in January 1935 one was
at Edinburgh and 2 more in northern England, but they were
not fighters at the time.
Regular fighter squadrons were based in Northern England
(Leeds area or points north) from September 1936, while
deployments of regular fighter squadrons to bases nearer to
the main Midland industrial cities began in November 1937.
The first regular fighter units based in Cornwall were in
September 1939 while the first units based in Scotland around
or to the north of Dundee arrived in October 1939.
RAF fighter units were based in the Orkneys and Shetlands
from late April 1940 on
Apart from a brief deployment in 1938 the first fighter
unit arrived in Northern Ireland in mid July 1940.
So in land area terms much of the United Kingdom lacked
any fighter units until after the war began.
In January 1935 there were 8 squadrons with the Bristol
Bulldog, first flown in 1927, 3 with the Hawker Demon two
seat fighter, first flown in in 1931 and 3 with the Hawker
Fury mark I, first flown in 1929 under the name Hornet.
The Bulldog was only in production as a trainer, while Fury
mark I production and Demon production was ongoing.
During January 1935 one squadron received the first
Gloster Gauntlet mark I, first flight in 1933, first production
in January 1935.
Italy invaded Ethiopia on 3 October 1935 and on the 4th
1 Bulldog and 2 Demon squadrons were shipped to the Middle
East. One of the squadrons returned to England in August
1936, the other 2 plus 2 more formed overseas arrived in
England in September 1936.
At the end of 1935 there were 5 Bulldog, 1 Bulldog/Gauntlet,
3 Fury and 2 Demon squadrons occupying the same airfields
as at the start of the year. In addition since May one of the
reserve units had been redesignated fighter and had Demons,
it was based near Edinburgh.
In February 1936 three more reserve squadrons were formed,
all as light bomber units, in July 1 new regular squadron was
formed by splitting an existing unit, in August and again in
September another regular squadron was formed in the same
way.
Together with the arrival of squadrons from overseas the home
fighter force at the end of 1936 now had 1 Bulldog, 4 Demon, 4
Fury and 10 Gauntlet squadrons, while apart from 1 Demon
squadron in north England the squadrons were still using the
1935 airfields. The Fury mark II, Gauntlet mark II and a version
of the Demon with an improved gunner position called the Demon
(Turret) were in production.
In addition 5 of the reserve squadrons had been designated fighter
units but only 2 had been re-equipped, both with Demons, the other
3 squadrons were still flying light bombers.
New regular fighter squadrons formed in 1937 were 1 in February,
and 5 in March, 1 new reserve squadron was formed in June but
as an Army Co-Operation unit.
Gloster Gladiator production began in March 1937 and Hawker
Hurricane production began in December 1937
At the end of 1937 number 11 Group had 14 squadrons and 12
Group had 11 squadrons and while 11 Group was still using only
the airfields from 1935, 12 Group had spread north and east. All
up the regular units were 1 Demon, 2 Demon / Demon (Turret),
1 Demon (Turret), 3 Fury, 9 Gauntlet, 1 Gauntlet / Hurricane and
8 Gladiator. (a / b means both a and b on strength).
Five of the reserve squadrons were fighter units, all had Demons.
In 1938 one new regular fighter squadron was formed in June, it
effectively replaced the squadron sent overseas in April.
Supermarine Spitfire production began in July 1938, conversions
of Bristol Blenheim light bombers to a fighter version began in late
1938, the first entering service in December.
At the end of September 1938 if the Munich crisis had resulted in
war the RAF home fighter force would have been 25 squadrons,
1 Demon (Turret), 2 Demon / Demon (Turret), 3 Fury, 7 Gauntlet,
1 Gauntlet / Hurricane, 1 Gauntlet / Spitfire, 5 Gladiator and 5
Hurricane
Also 5 reserve squadrons with Demons.
At the end of December 1938 there were 13 squadrons in 11 Group
and 12 in 12 Group. Again 11 Group was largely at the airfields in
use in 1935. Squadron equipment was 1 Blenheim / Gladiator,
3 Blenheim / Demon, 1 Fury / Hurricane, 1 Fury / Spitfire, 4 Gauntlet,
2 Gauntlet / Hurricane, 2 Gauntlet / Spitfire, 4 Gladiator, 7 Hurricane.
In addition there were 7 reserve fighter squadrons, 1 Blenheim / Demon,
2 Demon, 1 Demon / Gladiator, 1 Gauntlet, 1 Gauntlet / Hector and 1
still had Hind light bombers, so the reserve squadrons were finally
receiving more modern equipment.
No further new squadrons were formed before the outbreak of war while
in March 1939 one reserve fighter squadron was redesignated General
Reconnaissance, by which stage 12 reserve squadrons were officially
fighter units, 2 more reserve squadrons were redesignated fighter in
August 1939.
It means on 1 January 1935 the RAF home fighter force consisted of
14 regular squadrons which grew to 25 regular and 14 reserve
squadrons by September 1939, so a near tripling of the fighter force.
However 14 of the regular and 10 of the reserve squadrons were in
existence in January 1935, so in existing squadron terms the fighter
force grew by about 62.5%, and, apart from 1 squadron formed in 1938
to replace one sent overseas, the fighter force in September 1939
consisted of units that were in existence by the end of June 1937.
The bomber force had been 15 regular and 8 reserve squadrons in
January 1935, by September 1939 (ignoring the squadrons that
were actually being treated as training units) had grown to 41
regular squadrons, so in squadron terms 1.75 times the size but
heading towards 2.75 times in terms of new bomber squadrons.
Fighter force deployment on 3 September 1939 saw 11 Group
with 19 squadrons (still mainly where the fighter units were in
1935), 12 Group had 13 squadrons and 13 Group had 7, each
group had 3 or 4 Spitfire squadrons. In equipment terms,
7 Blenheim, 1 Gauntlet / Battle, 2 Gladiator, 1 Gladiator/Hurricane,
1 Gladiator / Spitfire, 16 Hurricane and 11 Spitfire. The Fairy Battle
was a light bomber but as it had a Merlin engine and retractable
undercarriage it made a useful trainer for new fighter units.
The first fighter squadron sent to France arrived on 4 September
and by the 9th there were 4 Hurricane squadrons, 2 each for the
Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF) and for the RAF Component.
In mid November 2 Gladiator squadrons were sent to join the RAF
component. Each pair of squadrons formed a wing.
July 1939 saw the first flight of the Bristol Beaufighter which was
officially counted as produced in April 1940, the next Beaufighters
were officially produced in June 1940.
September 1939 saw the first production of Bolton-Paul Defiants
while in October the second Hurricane production line, at Glosters,
began deliveries.
Also in October 1939 a total of 18 new fighter squadrons were
formed, 8 had Blenheims, 3 had Gladiators, 6 had no allocated
aircraft and the remaining 1 a mixture of types.
The situation at the end of December 1939 was 11 Group with
25 squadrons, 12 Group with 10 squadrons, 13 group with 16
squadrons and 6 squadrons in France. At some point after
November 1939 Debden airfield with 2 squadrons transferred
from 12 to 11 Group, they are counted as 11 Group here. By
this stage 13 Group held 6 Spitfire squadrons. In equipment
terms the 57 squadrons were
4 Battle, 1 Battle / Blenheim, 16 Blenheim, 1 Blenheim / Gladiator,
1 Defiant, 3 Gladiator, 1 Gladiator / Spitfire,17 Hurricane and 13
Spitfire.
The size of the force and the scale of activity in 1940 means there
was almost a change every day in the size and location of the fighter
force from April to mid November.
New squadrons,
Three on 16 May 1940, of these 2 had Spitfires and 1 had
Hurricanes and Spitfires but the Spitfires were soon withdrawn
from all 3 and they became Hurricane squadrons.
Number 1 squadron RCAF arrived in June, it brought its own
Hurricanes but they were from 1939 production and so quickly
replaced with Hurricanes that were up to the new standards.
4 New Hurricane squadrons in July (1 Czech, 2 Polish),
2 Hurricane (1 Polish, 1 Czech) and 1 Gladiator squadrons in
August (the latter was a flight upgraded and meant to use an
airfield too small for the monoplane fighters)
1 Defiant and 1 with no aircraft initially assigned formed in
September, both were Polish units, along with a squadron for
a short lived trial of the Brewster Buffalo.
1 Gladiator squadron formed in October.
In November 1 Hurricane squadron was sent overseas, but
2 Hurricane and 2 Defiant squadrons were formed.
In December 1 Handley Page Harrow / Douglas Havoc
squadron, 1 Hurricane squadron and number 2 RCAF
Hurricane squadron were formed, the latter from an
Army Co-Operation squadron Canada had sent to Britain.
In June 1940 the first Westland Whirlwinds were produced,
along with the first Spitfire from the second Spitfire production
line at Castle Bromwich which began by building mark II.
The first Hurricane mark II were built in August 1940.
As of 9 May 1940 the fighter squadron deployments were
20 with 11 Group, 7 in 12 Group, 20 in 13 Group, 6 in
France and 4 with Coastal Command. All the squadrons
in France were Hurricane, all the Coastal Command
squadrons were Blenheim. In equipment terms,
10 Blenheim, 2 Defiant, 1 Gladiator, 25 Hurricane,
19 Spitfire
Norway: 1 Gladiator squadron had arrived on 24 April but was
withdrawn on the 28th. It returned on 21 May and a Hurricane
squadron arrived on 26 May, they were withdrawn on 7 and 8
June but most flying personnel were lost with the sinking of HMS
Glorious on the 8th.
France: On 10 May three Hurricane squadrons were sent to
France, one to join the AASF, the other 2 for the RAF component.
Another Hurricane squadron was sent on the 12th and another
on the 17th bringing the strength to 11 squadrons.
Withdrawals began on the 18th and on the 23rd only the three
AASF Hurricane squadrons remained. On 8 June two Hurricane
squadrons were sent to France, on 18 June three squadrons were
withdrawn and the remaining two were back on mainland Britain
by the 21st.
Given the rapid changes during the Battle of France and then
Britain it is not surprising references tend to disagree at times
over dates and locations, partly due to when squadrons were
split between airfields, partly due to the organisation of sector
stations with their satellites and partly due to things like 242
squadron flying daily pre dawn to Duxford to help form the
12 Group Big Wing, then returning to Coltishall that night.
There are many published Orders of Battle for the RAF
fighter force in mid 1940, often non operational squadrons
are omitted from these, for example 263 squadron which was
using the Westland Whirlwind.
Also of course the Coastal Command units are not counted
in a Fighter Command Order of Battle.
In any case the casualties from the fighting meant in early
November 1940 of the nominal 71 fighter squadrons some 23
were class C, fit to attack unescorted bombers only, then add
the non operational squadrons.
At the end of December 1940 deployments were 5 squadrons
in 9 Group, 13 in 10 Group, 24 in 11 Group, 17 in 12 Group,
10 in 13 Group, 5 in 14 Group and 4 in Coastal Command.
In equipment terms,
5 Blenheim (4 in Coastal Command), 5 Blenheim/Beaufighter,
5 Defiant, 1 Defiant/Hurricane, 1 Gladiator, 1 Harrow/Havoc,
40 Hurricane, 1 Hurricane/Whirlwind, 19 Spitfire.
All of the Fighter Command Blenheim, Beaufighter, Defiant
and Harrow/Havoc squadrons were night fighters as were
around 3 of the Hurricane squadrons.
Geoffrey Sinclair
Remove the nb for email.
11 were based around London, 2 were near Portsmouth, about 60 miles
south west of London and 1 was at Duxford, outside Cambridge, about
40 miles north of London, the squadrons were based at a total of 8
airfields.
Air Defence Great Britain commanded all home based bombers and
fighters, with the Fighting Area having the fighter units.
On 31 December 1940 there were a nominal 78 squadrons, including
2 RCAF, under the command of 6 groups, based all over the United
Kingdom.
This study is a squadron count, no attempt is made to find the actual
strength in the squadrons or whether they were operational or not. With
the needs of expansion and combat squadrons were often below full
strength and with squadrons splitting to form new ones, with new ones
being raised and new types of aircraft being delivered all squadrons
were non operational at one time or another between January 1935
and December 1940.
There were no changes to the command arrangements in 1935,
number 11 Group was formed on 20 May 1936 by renaming
Fighting Area.
On 13 July 1936 Air Defence Great Britain was disbanded, the
next day Fighter Command was formed.
Number 12 Group was formed on 1 April 1937, it took command
the fighters in Northern England and Wales later that year, taking
the units from 11 Group.
Number 13 Group was formed on 24 July 1939, taking over the
fighters in Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland from
12 Group.
Number 14 Group was formed in France on 20 January 1940 to
command the RAF Component fighter squadrons, it was disbanded
in May 1940. It was reformed on 1 August 1940 and in November
took over fighter units in Northern Scotland from 13 Group.
Number 10 Group was formed on 15 June 1940 and in early July
took over the fighters in south west England and south Wales
from 11 Group.
Number 9 Group was formed on 9 August 1940 and in November
took over the fighters in northern Wales and the western Midlands
from 12 Group.
Also in January/February 1940 Coastal Command took over 4
Blenheim fighter squadrons from Fighter Command, these are
still counted here as at least 1 was seconded back to Fighter
Command for a time during the Battle of Britain.
On 1 January 1935 the RAF had 5 special reserve squadrons,
numbers 500 to 504 and 8 Auxiliary Air Force squadrons, numbers
600 to 605, 607 and 608, of these 9 were designated as bomber
and 4 as Army Co-Operation units but by the start of the war 10
had been reorganised as fighter units and another, 608 squadron,
was also changed to a fighter unit but in March1939 became a
General Reconnaissance formation while the remaining two
squadrons simply became General Reconnaissance.
Another 7 Auxiliary squadrons were formed between 1936 and
1939, numbers 609 to 615 squadrons, as 3 bomber and 4 Army
Co-Operation, the bomber squadrons became fighter units as
did one of the Army Co-Operation. Only the units that became
fighters are included below.
Finally just to confuse things a little 503 squadron was renamed
616 in November 1938.
So in fact none of the mid to late 1930's reserve bomber units
ended up as bombers.
The reserve units complicate mapping the expansion of the
fighter defences, as for example in January 1935 one was
at Edinburgh and 2 more in northern England, but they were
not fighters at the time.
Regular fighter squadrons were based in Northern England
(Leeds area or points north) from September 1936, while
deployments of regular fighter squadrons to bases nearer to
the main Midland industrial cities began in November 1937.
The first regular fighter units based in Cornwall were in
September 1939 while the first units based in Scotland around
or to the north of Dundee arrived in October 1939.
RAF fighter units were based in the Orkneys and Shetlands
from late April 1940 on
Apart from a brief deployment in 1938 the first fighter
unit arrived in Northern Ireland in mid July 1940.
So in land area terms much of the United Kingdom lacked
any fighter units until after the war began.
In January 1935 there were 8 squadrons with the Bristol
Bulldog, first flown in 1927, 3 with the Hawker Demon two
seat fighter, first flown in in 1931 and 3 with the Hawker
Fury mark I, first flown in 1929 under the name Hornet.
The Bulldog was only in production as a trainer, while Fury
mark I production and Demon production was ongoing.
During January 1935 one squadron received the first
Gloster Gauntlet mark I, first flight in 1933, first production
in January 1935.
Italy invaded Ethiopia on 3 October 1935 and on the 4th
1 Bulldog and 2 Demon squadrons were shipped to the Middle
East. One of the squadrons returned to England in August
1936, the other 2 plus 2 more formed overseas arrived in
England in September 1936.
At the end of 1935 there were 5 Bulldog, 1 Bulldog/Gauntlet,
3 Fury and 2 Demon squadrons occupying the same airfields
as at the start of the year. In addition since May one of the
reserve units had been redesignated fighter and had Demons,
it was based near Edinburgh.
In February 1936 three more reserve squadrons were formed,
all as light bomber units, in July 1 new regular squadron was
formed by splitting an existing unit, in August and again in
September another regular squadron was formed in the same
way.
Together with the arrival of squadrons from overseas the home
fighter force at the end of 1936 now had 1 Bulldog, 4 Demon, 4
Fury and 10 Gauntlet squadrons, while apart from 1 Demon
squadron in north England the squadrons were still using the
1935 airfields. The Fury mark II, Gauntlet mark II and a version
of the Demon with an improved gunner position called the Demon
(Turret) were in production.
In addition 5 of the reserve squadrons had been designated fighter
units but only 2 had been re-equipped, both with Demons, the other
3 squadrons were still flying light bombers.
New regular fighter squadrons formed in 1937 were 1 in February,
and 5 in March, 1 new reserve squadron was formed in June but
as an Army Co-Operation unit.
Gloster Gladiator production began in March 1937 and Hawker
Hurricane production began in December 1937
At the end of 1937 number 11 Group had 14 squadrons and 12
Group had 11 squadrons and while 11 Group was still using only
the airfields from 1935, 12 Group had spread north and east. All
up the regular units were 1 Demon, 2 Demon / Demon (Turret),
1 Demon (Turret), 3 Fury, 9 Gauntlet, 1 Gauntlet / Hurricane and
8 Gladiator. (a / b means both a and b on strength).
Five of the reserve squadrons were fighter units, all had Demons.
In 1938 one new regular fighter squadron was formed in June, it
effectively replaced the squadron sent overseas in April.
Supermarine Spitfire production began in July 1938, conversions
of Bristol Blenheim light bombers to a fighter version began in late
1938, the first entering service in December.
At the end of September 1938 if the Munich crisis had resulted in
war the RAF home fighter force would have been 25 squadrons,
1 Demon (Turret), 2 Demon / Demon (Turret), 3 Fury, 7 Gauntlet,
1 Gauntlet / Hurricane, 1 Gauntlet / Spitfire, 5 Gladiator and 5
Hurricane
Also 5 reserve squadrons with Demons.
At the end of December 1938 there were 13 squadrons in 11 Group
and 12 in 12 Group. Again 11 Group was largely at the airfields in
use in 1935. Squadron equipment was 1 Blenheim / Gladiator,
3 Blenheim / Demon, 1 Fury / Hurricane, 1 Fury / Spitfire, 4 Gauntlet,
2 Gauntlet / Hurricane, 2 Gauntlet / Spitfire, 4 Gladiator, 7 Hurricane.
In addition there were 7 reserve fighter squadrons, 1 Blenheim / Demon,
2 Demon, 1 Demon / Gladiator, 1 Gauntlet, 1 Gauntlet / Hector and 1
still had Hind light bombers, so the reserve squadrons were finally
receiving more modern equipment.
No further new squadrons were formed before the outbreak of war while
in March 1939 one reserve fighter squadron was redesignated General
Reconnaissance, by which stage 12 reserve squadrons were officially
fighter units, 2 more reserve squadrons were redesignated fighter in
August 1939.
It means on 1 January 1935 the RAF home fighter force consisted of
14 regular squadrons which grew to 25 regular and 14 reserve
squadrons by September 1939, so a near tripling of the fighter force.
However 14 of the regular and 10 of the reserve squadrons were in
existence in January 1935, so in existing squadron terms the fighter
force grew by about 62.5%, and, apart from 1 squadron formed in 1938
to replace one sent overseas, the fighter force in September 1939
consisted of units that were in existence by the end of June 1937.
The bomber force had been 15 regular and 8 reserve squadrons in
January 1935, by September 1939 (ignoring the squadrons that
were actually being treated as training units) had grown to 41
regular squadrons, so in squadron terms 1.75 times the size but
heading towards 2.75 times in terms of new bomber squadrons.
Fighter force deployment on 3 September 1939 saw 11 Group
with 19 squadrons (still mainly where the fighter units were in
1935), 12 Group had 13 squadrons and 13 Group had 7, each
group had 3 or 4 Spitfire squadrons. In equipment terms,
7 Blenheim, 1 Gauntlet / Battle, 2 Gladiator, 1 Gladiator/Hurricane,
1 Gladiator / Spitfire, 16 Hurricane and 11 Spitfire. The Fairy Battle
was a light bomber but as it had a Merlin engine and retractable
undercarriage it made a useful trainer for new fighter units.
The first fighter squadron sent to France arrived on 4 September
and by the 9th there were 4 Hurricane squadrons, 2 each for the
Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF) and for the RAF Component.
In mid November 2 Gladiator squadrons were sent to join the RAF
component. Each pair of squadrons formed a wing.
July 1939 saw the first flight of the Bristol Beaufighter which was
officially counted as produced in April 1940, the next Beaufighters
were officially produced in June 1940.
September 1939 saw the first production of Bolton-Paul Defiants
while in October the second Hurricane production line, at Glosters,
began deliveries.
Also in October 1939 a total of 18 new fighter squadrons were
formed, 8 had Blenheims, 3 had Gladiators, 6 had no allocated
aircraft and the remaining 1 a mixture of types.
The situation at the end of December 1939 was 11 Group with
25 squadrons, 12 Group with 10 squadrons, 13 group with 16
squadrons and 6 squadrons in France. At some point after
November 1939 Debden airfield with 2 squadrons transferred
from 12 to 11 Group, they are counted as 11 Group here. By
this stage 13 Group held 6 Spitfire squadrons. In equipment
terms the 57 squadrons were
4 Battle, 1 Battle / Blenheim, 16 Blenheim, 1 Blenheim / Gladiator,
1 Defiant, 3 Gladiator, 1 Gladiator / Spitfire,17 Hurricane and 13
Spitfire.
The size of the force and the scale of activity in 1940 means there
was almost a change every day in the size and location of the fighter
force from April to mid November.
New squadrons,
Three on 16 May 1940, of these 2 had Spitfires and 1 had
Hurricanes and Spitfires but the Spitfires were soon withdrawn
from all 3 and they became Hurricane squadrons.
Number 1 squadron RCAF arrived in June, it brought its own
Hurricanes but they were from 1939 production and so quickly
replaced with Hurricanes that were up to the new standards.
4 New Hurricane squadrons in July (1 Czech, 2 Polish),
2 Hurricane (1 Polish, 1 Czech) and 1 Gladiator squadrons in
August (the latter was a flight upgraded and meant to use an
airfield too small for the monoplane fighters)
1 Defiant and 1 with no aircraft initially assigned formed in
September, both were Polish units, along with a squadron for
a short lived trial of the Brewster Buffalo.
1 Gladiator squadron formed in October.
In November 1 Hurricane squadron was sent overseas, but
2 Hurricane and 2 Defiant squadrons were formed.
In December 1 Handley Page Harrow / Douglas Havoc
squadron, 1 Hurricane squadron and number 2 RCAF
Hurricane squadron were formed, the latter from an
Army Co-Operation squadron Canada had sent to Britain.
In June 1940 the first Westland Whirlwinds were produced,
along with the first Spitfire from the second Spitfire production
line at Castle Bromwich which began by building mark II.
The first Hurricane mark II were built in August 1940.
As of 9 May 1940 the fighter squadron deployments were
20 with 11 Group, 7 in 12 Group, 20 in 13 Group, 6 in
France and 4 with Coastal Command. All the squadrons
in France were Hurricane, all the Coastal Command
squadrons were Blenheim. In equipment terms,
10 Blenheim, 2 Defiant, 1 Gladiator, 25 Hurricane,
19 Spitfire
Norway: 1 Gladiator squadron had arrived on 24 April but was
withdrawn on the 28th. It returned on 21 May and a Hurricane
squadron arrived on 26 May, they were withdrawn on 7 and 8
June but most flying personnel were lost with the sinking of HMS
Glorious on the 8th.
France: On 10 May three Hurricane squadrons were sent to
France, one to join the AASF, the other 2 for the RAF component.
Another Hurricane squadron was sent on the 12th and another
on the 17th bringing the strength to 11 squadrons.
Withdrawals began on the 18th and on the 23rd only the three
AASF Hurricane squadrons remained. On 8 June two Hurricane
squadrons were sent to France, on 18 June three squadrons were
withdrawn and the remaining two were back on mainland Britain
by the 21st.
Given the rapid changes during the Battle of France and then
Britain it is not surprising references tend to disagree at times
over dates and locations, partly due to when squadrons were
split between airfields, partly due to the organisation of sector
stations with their satellites and partly due to things like 242
squadron flying daily pre dawn to Duxford to help form the
12 Group Big Wing, then returning to Coltishall that night.
There are many published Orders of Battle for the RAF
fighter force in mid 1940, often non operational squadrons
are omitted from these, for example 263 squadron which was
using the Westland Whirlwind.
Also of course the Coastal Command units are not counted
in a Fighter Command Order of Battle.
In any case the casualties from the fighting meant in early
November 1940 of the nominal 71 fighter squadrons some 23
were class C, fit to attack unescorted bombers only, then add
the non operational squadrons.
At the end of December 1940 deployments were 5 squadrons
in 9 Group, 13 in 10 Group, 24 in 11 Group, 17 in 12 Group,
10 in 13 Group, 5 in 14 Group and 4 in Coastal Command.
In equipment terms,
5 Blenheim (4 in Coastal Command), 5 Blenheim/Beaufighter,
5 Defiant, 1 Defiant/Hurricane, 1 Gladiator, 1 Harrow/Havoc,
40 Hurricane, 1 Hurricane/Whirlwind, 19 Spitfire.
All of the Fighter Command Blenheim, Beaufighter, Defiant
and Harrow/Havoc squadrons were night fighters as were
around 3 of the Hurricane squadrons.
Geoffrey Sinclair
Remove the nb for email.