Dunkirk/The RAF

[Marina]

I have just finished reading McEwan's book 'Atonement'. In it he describes a scene where troops waiting to be evacuated turn on an RAF pilot, demanding to know where the RAF were.
Where were they? as there really no air cover for the troops?
Marina

[Owen]

Justed looked up this in Dunkirk Fight to The Last Man.

Dowding said there were 524 operational fighters in the UK, 280 Spitfires, 244 Hurricanes and 3 fighter squadrons in France.
The RAF had lost 250 in the campaign at that time, 3rd June.
If the Luftwaffe attacked the UK heavily he couldn't guarentee air superiority for more than 48 hours.
Therefore it was impossible to defend the UK and keep a continual air umbrella over Dunkirk.
On June 2nd , the RAF decided to fly less frequent multi-squadron patrols rather than more single-squadron patrols over Dunkirk.

EDIT.The RAF lost 931 planes including 477 fighters during the 1940 fighting in France and Belgium.

[NickFenton]

From my own knowledge of this, it should also be pointed out that the RAF tried to intercept the attackers before they got to Dunkirk therefore the fighters were not seen over the troops.

Nick

[Gibbo]

The ill feeling of soldiers towards the RAF is accurate. Guy Gibson's autobiography, Enemy Coast Ahead, describes how he was confronted by an army officer who kept on repeating 'Where was the RAF at Dunkirk?' It was, however, unfair for the reasons given by Owen & Nick.

[Marina]

Thanks all, for that information. I knew I;d get the answer here!

[Peter Clare]

Dunkirk was a landmark in RAF history: the first time it was able to bring its concentrated strength to bear for a single purpose in a single clearly defined location. It was a "battle of all arms" Fighter Command was the one that the Army (and the public) looked for protection of the evacuation against the attacks of the Luftwaffe; but Coastal Command flew continous daylight patrols from 28 May, unhesitatingly exposing its Blenheims, Hudsons, Skuas and Rocs (borrowed from the Fleet Air Arm) to the German fighters, even when no British fighters were present, while No.2 Group's Blenheims hit German troops around Dunkirk in daylight and Bomber Command's heavies attacked road approaches and rear communications at night

By the end of the evacuation on June 4, every squadron of Fighter Command except three in Scotland had seen action at some time or other since the begining of the campaign.

It must also be remembered that Churchill, on May 19 ruled. "No more squadrons of fighters will leave the country whatever the need in France"

[Marina]

Thanks, Peter.
Marina

[mahross]

Unfortuanatly the RAF became known as the Royal Absent Force. However, this just underlined the misinterpretation many army officers had about the use of air power. The RAF was, as Nick points, fighting many miles inland attempting to stop the attacks before they reached the beaches. That the army expected them over the beach was to misunderstand the purpose of air power as a force projection weapon. It is unfortuanate that this is how the RAF is often remembered for the hard work it did during the Battle of France.

Ross

[Owen]

http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/8...searchsource=0

'Where is the RAF?' was the oft-quoted question asked by soldiers waiting on the beach at Dunkirk, to where they had retreated following the German blitzkrieg through northern France, and where they were now being pounded by the Luftwaffe. The air forces were there, as Norman Franks proves, detailing the outstanding achievements of the Allied pilots who had earlier had easy victories over the Polish, Dutch and Belgian air forces. The RAF's achievement reminds us just how close Britain came to disaster in June 1940.

Saw this in a bookshop today.
Maybe I'll get it for you at Christmas ,Marina.

[Marina]

You're a star, Owen!
Marina