Defending the Nation

Slide 1

During the Battle of Britain, Britain was split into four areas or groups which would be protected by R.A.F. fighter squadrons.Image courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, London (Ref. HU3093)'Groups' during the Battle of Britain

Map provided by The Battle of Britain Historical SocietyFighter Command divided Britain into different Groups. Each Group had its own Sectors to protect and a headquarters which was in charge of the airfields in that area.Group Headquarters directed squadrons of fighters towards the enemy formations as they approached the territory that they were responsible for protecting.LondonCardiff

Click this link to hear an imaginary conversation between a Pilot and Group ControllerImages provided by the Battle of Britain Historical Society

3

Map courtesy of Promethean

Images courtesy of Promethean and the Battle of Britain Historical SocietyOnly one airfield was designated within Wales to contribute to the fighter defence system during the period of the Battle of Britain. This airfield was Pembrey in South-West Wales which housed a Spitfire Squadron as part of 10 Group.

Pembrey AirfieldMap courtesy of Promethean10 Group12 Group11 GroupNo.12 Group 1st July 1940Duxford19264SpitfireDefiant811Coltishall66242SpitfireHurricane1210Wittering23229266BlenheimHurricaneSpitfire10148Digby2946611BlenheimHurricaneSpitfire10153Kirton-in-Lindsey222Spitfire12BaseSquadron No.AircraftReady for actionAn example of how Groups were organised just before the Battle of Britain.

Sir Hugh Dowding was Commander-in-Chief, Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. He was 58 years old when the battle began and was known affectionately as Stuffy by his fighter pilots. Dowding supported the development of radar and of new fighter planes that could challenge the planes of the Luftwaffe.Keith Park was Air Officer Commanding 11 Group during the Battle of Britain. He was a New Zealander and was 48 years old when the battle began. Park had been a pilot during the First World War and was regularly seen during the Battle of Britain flying to and from the airfields under his command in his personal Hurricane fighter. He was a popular leader of 11 Group seen as the most important area to be protected.Who was in charge of the Sectors and Groups?

Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory had been in charge of12 Group since Fighter Command was established in 1936. He did not always see eye-to-eye with Sir Hugh Dowding during the Battle of Britain and argued that more squadrons of fighters should join together to make Big Wings. Sir Christopher Quintin Brand was in charge of 10 Group Air Vice-Marshal Richard Saul was in charge of 13 Group

Leigh-Mallory maintained that this would give the pilots more of a chance to get through German escort fighters and attack the bombers. Dowding and Park argued however that fighters could not be risked in such numbers. They also pointed out that if a Big Wing policy were used during the Battle of Britain then fewer German bomber formations could be engaged overall.10 Group11 Group12 Group13 GroupPut the name of the correct Group Commander (late 1940), into the boxes provided.Sir Christopher Quintin BrandRichard SaulTrafford Leigh-MalloryKeith ParkSir Hugh Dowding, Commander-in-Chief, Fighter Command.