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The German ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' conducted '''fighter-bomber attacks on the United Kingdom during 1940'''. These operations formed part of the final stages of the [[Battle of Britain]], and mainly targeted [[London]]. Other attacks were made against shipping, radar stations and aircraft factories.
==Attacks==
After the Luftwaffe's specialist ground attack aircraft, the [[Junkers Ju 87]], suffered heavy losses in attacks on Britain, it was decided to use modified [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]s and [[Messerschmitt Bf 110]] as [[fighter-bomber]]s.<ref name="Goss_Cornwell_Rauchbach_30">Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), p. 30</ref> The first unit equipped with these aircraft, Erprobungs Grupp 210, began conducting operations against shipping in the English Channel in the third week of July. The unit began operations against ground targets on 12 August, when aircraft from its three squadrons (''staffel'') simultaneously attacked radar stations near [[Dover]], [[Pevensey]], [[Rye, East Sussex|Rye]] and [[Dunkirk, Kent|Dunkirk]].<ref>Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), pp. 35–36</ref> The unit continued fighter-bomber operations throughout July, but suffered heavy losses during raids on inland targets; casualties among the Bf 110s were particularly high, and it became clear that these large and relatively slow aircraft were not suited to the fighter-bomber role.<ref>Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), pp. 38–39</ref> Nevertheless, the Luftwaffe decided to expand its fighter bomber force, and an additional group equipped with modified Bf 109s became active in August. On 2 September [[Hermann Göring]], the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, directed that one squadron of each Bf 109 group was to be equipped with fighter-bombers, and that these aircraft were to be used to attack the British aircraft industry and other industrial facilities.<ref>Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), pp. 39–41</ref>
Despite Göring's directive, only 19 fighter-bomber operations were conducted against the UK during September. These operations involved 428 sorties, of which 264 were conducted against [[London]]. Only four fighter-bombers were lost, with one being shot down by fighter aircraft and the other three falling victim to anti-aircraft guns.<ref name="Goss_Cornwell_Rauchbach_44">Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), p. 44</ref> On 26 September, a force of 50 fighter-bombers and level bombers successfully attacked the [[Supermarine]] aircraft factory at [[Woolston, Southampton]]; this raid stopped all production at the factory for a period, and killed more than 30 people. The [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) shot down three of the raiders, but lost six fighters.<ref name="Collier_248">Collier (1957), p. 248</ref> The next day, ten Bf 110 fighter-bombers escorted by other fighters attempted to attack either [[RAF Filton]], or another target located near [[Bristol]]. This force was intercepted by [[No. 504 Squadron RAF]], and the Bf 110s dropped their bombs on Bristol, causing little damage.<ref name=Collier_248 />
Later in autumn, the Luftwaffe conducted a series of attacks on [[London]] using Bf 109 fighter-bombers.<ref name=Collier_248 /> These operations represented the majority of German attacks on the UK in October, and the British defences had difficulty detecting and intercepting the high-flying and fast fighter-bomber formations. Due to the speed these forces traveled at, British [[radar]] stations were usually only able to provide less than 20 minutes warning before the aircraft arrived over London.<ref name="Collier_249">Collier (1957), p. 249</ref> Overall, 140 separate attacks involving 2,633 fighter-bomber sorties were conducted against London during October. Losses were light, with 29 Bf 109s being destroyed.<ref name="Goss_Cornwell_Rauchbach_52">Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), p. 52</ref> While October marked the peak of figher-bomber operations in 1940, attacks continued until late in the year. The rate of effort decreased during November and December as the Bf 109s needed to be used to counter RAF fighter sweeps over France, and the onset of winter weather reduced flying opportunities.<ref>Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), pp. 53–54</ref>
The fighter-bomber operations were highly unpopular among German pilots and the commanders of the units involved, who regarded them as being ineffective and a waste of both pilots' lives and aircraft. Göring reacted angrily to protests over the use of the fighters for these operations, declaring that the fighter force had failed to adequately protect the bombers and may as well be disbanded if it also proved unsuccessful in conducting ground attack operations.<ref name="Goss_Cornwell_Rauchbach_53">Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), p. 53</ref>
==References==
===Citations===
===Works consulted===
*
*
[[Category:Battle of Britain]]
[[Category:1940 in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1940]]
[[Category:World War II aerial operations and battles of the Western European Theatre]]
[[Category:Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving Germany]]
The German ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' conducted '''fighter-bomber attacks on the United Kingdom during 1940'''. These operations formed part of the final stages of the [[Battle of Britain]], and mainly targeted [[London]]. Other attacks were made against shipping, radar stations and aircraft factories.
==Attacks==
After the Luftwaffe's specialist ground attack aircraft, the [[Junkers Ju 87]], suffered heavy losses in attacks on Britain, it was decided to use modified [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]s and [[Messerschmitt Bf 110]] as [[fighter-bomber]]s.<ref name="Goss_Cornwell_Rauchbach_30">Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), p. 30</ref> The first unit equipped with these aircraft, Erprobungs Grupp 210, began conducting operations against shipping in the English Channel in the third week of July. The unit began operations against ground targets on 12 August, when aircraft from its three squadrons (''staffel'') simultaneously attacked radar stations near [[Dover]], [[Pevensey]], [[Rye, East Sussex|Rye]] and [[Dunkirk, Kent|Dunkirk]].<ref>Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), pp. 35–36</ref> The unit continued fighter-bomber operations throughout July, but suffered heavy losses during raids on inland targets; casualties among the Bf 110s were particularly high, and it became clear that these large and relatively slow aircraft were not suited to the fighter-bomber role.<ref>Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), pp. 38–39</ref> Nevertheless, the Luftwaffe decided to expand its fighter bomber force, and an additional group equipped with modified Bf 109s became active in August. On 2 September [[Hermann Göring]], the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, directed that one squadron of each Bf 109 group was to be equipped with fighter-bombers, and that these aircraft were to be used to attack the British aircraft industry and other industrial facilities.<ref>Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), pp. 39–41</ref>
Despite Göring's directive, only 19 fighter-bomber operations were conducted against the UK during September. These operations involved 428 sorties, of which 264 were conducted against [[London]]. Only four fighter-bombers were lost, with one being shot down by fighter aircraft and the other three falling victim to anti-aircraft guns.<ref name="Goss_Cornwell_Rauchbach_44">Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), p. 44</ref> On 26 September, a force of 50 fighter-bombers and level bombers successfully attacked the [[Supermarine]] aircraft factory at [[Woolston, Southampton]]; this raid stopped all production at the factory for a period, and killed more than 30 people. The [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) shot down three of the raiders, but lost six fighters.<ref name="Collier_248">Collier (1957), p. 248</ref> The next day, ten Bf 110 fighter-bombers escorted by other fighters attempted to attack either [[RAF Filton]], or another target located near [[Bristol]]. This force was intercepted by [[No. 504 Squadron RAF]], and the Bf 110s dropped their bombs on Bristol, causing little damage.<ref name=Collier_248 />
Later in autumn, the Luftwaffe conducted a series of attacks on [[London]] using Bf 109 fighter-bombers.<ref name=Collier_248 /> These operations represented the majority of German attacks on the UK in October, and the British defences had difficulty detecting and intercepting the high-flying and fast fighter-bomber formations. Due to the speed these forces traveled at, British [[radar]] stations were usually only able to provide less than 20 minutes warning before the aircraft arrived over London.<ref name="Collier_249">Collier (1957), p. 249</ref> Overall, 140 separate attacks involving 2,633 fighter-bomber sorties were conducted against London during October. Losses were light, with 29 Bf 109s being destroyed.<ref name="Goss_Cornwell_Rauchbach_52">Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), p. 52</ref> While October marked the peak of figher-bomber operations in 1940, attacks continued until late in the year. The rate of effort decreased during November and December as the Bf 109s needed to be used to counter RAF fighter sweeps over France, and the onset of winter weather reduced flying opportunities.<ref>Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), pp. 53–54</ref>
The fighter-bomber operations were highly unpopular among German pilots and the commanders of the units involved, who regarded them as being ineffective and a waste of both pilots' lives and aircraft. Göring reacted angrily to protests over the use of the fighters for these operations, declaring that the fighter force had failed to adequately protect the bombers and may as well be disbanded if it also proved unsuccessful in conducting ground attack operations.<ref name="Goss_Cornwell_Rauchbach_53">Goss, Cornwell and Rauchbach (2010), p. 53</ref>
==References==
===Citations===
===Works consulted===
*
*
[[Category:Battle of Britain]]
[[Category:1940 in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1940]]
[[Category:World War II aerial operations and battles of the Western European Theatre]]
[[Category:Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving Germany]]
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