RAF Strength Far East Command – January 1942

In December 1941 Japan entered WWII on the side of the Axis by attacking the forces of the USA and UK stationed in the Pacific.

The most audacious attack was against the US fleet in Pearl Harbor but in the same period the Japanese invaded the Philippines, Thailand and British controlled Hong Kong and Malaya.

Both the Americans and the British had underestimated Japan’s military and they paid the price. The British also suffered from their ongoing war against Germany and Italy. They had limited military resources and the choice had been made to concentrate these in Europe. Thus their forces in the Far East were equipped with outdated weapons. This is obvious in the case of the RAF, as shown by the following strength reports:

 

Source: AIR 22 ‘Air Ministry: Periodical Returns, Intelligence Summaries and Bulletins’

The types available were second line aircraft like the Hawker Audax, Westland Wapiti, Westland Lysander, Vickers Vildebeest and a handful of relatively modern Curtiss P-36, Bristol Blenheim, Bristol Beaufort, Lockheed Hudson and Brewster F2A Buffalo.

These forces were not capable of standing up to the modern Japanese planes, especially the Mitsubishi A6M Zero.

RAF 2nd TAF strength 1944-45

The 2^nd Tactical Air Force was a RAF group that supported the Allied troops fighting in Western Europe in the period 1944-45.

Strength returns of 2^nd TAF are available from ‘AIR 22-Air Ministry: Periodical Returns, Intelligence Summaries and Bulletins’

2nd Tactical AF	1-Jan-44	1-May-44	1-Sep-44	1-Jan-45
SE Fighters	697	1,017	1,080	1,044
Army Coop		120	112	112
Medium Bombers	319	294	360	396
Sum	1,016	1,431	1,552	1,552

These numbers refer to operational aircraft.

The fighters used were the Spitfire and P-51 Mustang together with the fighter/ground attack plane Typhoon. These planes make up the majority of 2^nd TAF strength. At the same time there are a small number of medium bombers of the Mosquito, Mitchell and Boston types. There was also a small number of Auster observation aircraft.

RAF strength Med/Middle East - 1941-43

In the period 1941-43 the main theatre of war between British and German military forces was North Africa. There British forces had to fight against the German Africa Corps and the Italian Army.

The RAF strength during this period was the following:

Middle East Command and later Mediterranean Command

 

 North West African Air Forces

RAF - North West African Air Forces
Types		7-May-43		3-Sep-43
Spitfire		686		703
Hurricane		165		181
Kittyhawk				97
Beaufighter		62		144
Wellington		31		207
Marauder		15		16
Boston		40		74
Blenheim		44		63
Hudson		57		43
Baltimore				71
Spitfire recon		15		20
Mosquito recon				4
Total		1,115		1,623

 

Numbers refer to planes operational plus those serviceable within 14 days.

RAF Malta

 

Source: Daily strength reports from AIR 22 - 'Air Ministry: Periodical Returns, Intelligence Summaries and Bulletins'

Some comments:

Numerical strength goes up dramatically during the period 1941-43. From 385 fighters and bombers in May ’41, to 1.202 in May ’42, to 2.926 in May ’43 (including NWAAF).

In terms of quality the picture is not as clear as regards quantity. Even though the Brits have the excellent Spitfire fighter, in the Med they use the outdated Hurricane and the US P-40. Both these planes are inferior to the Bf-109. The Spitfire is finally used from mid 1942 but is only available in large numbers in late ’42.

The bomber force also suffers from mediocre quality. Initially it is made up of the outdated Blenheim and Wellington types. In 1942-43 the US types Boston, Maurauder, Baltimore, Maryland and Hudson are also used.

Standardization does not seem to be an issue with the RAF. In 1941 there are 2 fighter and 4 bomber types in use. In 1942 there are 6 fighter and 9 bomber types. Finally in 1943 there are 5 fighter and 8 bomber types.

Lend Lease plays a vital role in N.Africa, as the American P-40 fighter and the Boston, Maurauder, Baltimore, Maryland and Hudson bombers make up a large part of RAF strength in the theatre (roughly a third of ME Command in 1941-42).

Comparison with Axis strength:

Unfortunately I don’t have similar data for the Italian AF but Luftwaffe strength for Luftflotte 2 and Sud Ost has been posted here.

The RAF had a significant numerical advantage over the German AF, however that does not mean that the Germans were always outnumbered.

Against Malta the Luftwaffe could concentrate a large force of fighters and bombers operating from Sicily. In the first half of 1942 they had between 300-400 combat planes versus less than half as many British planes.

On the other hand in North Africa it was the Brits that had crushing superiority. The strength of Fliegerführer Afrika fluctuated between 200-300 planes versus up to 6 times as many in Middle East Command.

The Germans also faced serious supply problems that forced them to rely mainly on the Bf-109 and Ju-87. Bombers like the Ju-88 could not be permanently based in N.Africa but operated from Italy and Greece and were resupplied in N.African airports. The RAF on the other hand had the benefit of a large number of twin-engined bombers operating from N.African bases.

RAF Fighter Command strength 1939-45

The British RAF was organized in specialized commands. Fighter Command’s role was to protect Britain from the enemy’s bomber force.

Let’s have a look at the Fighter Command strength from AIR 22 - 'Air Ministry: Periodical Returns, Intelligence Summaries and Bulletins':

Op.: Aircraft in operational units.

Est.: Establishment strength in operational units.

Serv.: Serviceable aircraft in operational units.

Crews: Aircraft with crews in operational units.

Some comments:

1).Numerical strength of FC goes up in the period 1939-42, stabilizes in 1943 at a high level and starts going down in 1944-45.

2).Regarding the types of aircraft, initially it is the Hawker Hurricane that is the main fighter but from late ’41 the Supermarine Spitfire takes the lead.

3).Standardization doesn’t seem to be high on FC priorities since many different types are used concurrently. This is understandable in the case of two engine aircraft that are used as night-fighters, such as the Beaufighter and Mosquito.

However when it comes to day-fighters we get in May ’41: Spit, Hurricane, Westland Whirlwind and Boulton Paul Defiant.

Things start to change in the second half of the war. In May ’43 we have the Spit, Hawker Typhoon and Whirlwind.

Only in 1945 does standardization win since there are just two types, the Spit and the P-51 Mustang.

4).In 1941-42 it’s hard to justify the large number of Spitfires kept in the UK since the Germans have a very small airforce in Western Europe. Meanwhile the RAF in N.Africa has to use the outdated Hurricane and the American P-40 Warhawk.

5).Despite all the talk about the Spitfire being the best fighter of the war It is interesting to note that even though FC has numerical superiority it is still beaten in the Channel battles of 1941-42 by the Luftwaffe’s Channel-Geschwader JG2 and JG26. The Germans used the Bf-109F and FW-190 that had superior performance compared to the British types. [Sources: ‘The right of the line: the Royal Air Force in the European War, 1939-1945’, p285 and 561 and ‘Jagdwaffe Volume 4, Section 1: Holding the West 1941-1943’]

6).Throughout the war the main problem for FC is that their ‘star’ aircraft lacks the range to take the fight into Germany.

7).Lend Lease aircraft only appear in large numbers in 1945, when the P-51 Mustang makes up 48% of FC in April ’45. Prior to ’45 only the Boston night-fighter is used in small numbers.

RAF Bomber Command strength 1939-45

The British Royal Air Force was organized in specialized commands. Bomber Command’s role was to engage in a strategic bombing campaign against the enemy’s population centers and industrial areas.

Let’s have a look at the Bomber Command strength from AIR 22 - 'Air Ministry: Periodical Returns, Intelligence Summaries and Bulletins':

Est.: Establishment strength in operational units.

Op.: Aircraft in operational units.

Serv.: Serviceable aircraft in operational units.

Crews.: Aircraft in operational units with crews.

Some comments:

For the first half of the war the Strategic^TM RAF has no strategic (4-engine) bombers.

Bomber Command strength goes up in the period 1939-42 but then there is a slight decrease in numbers during ’42 as the new 4-engine bombers are introduced and the old tactical bombers are withdrawn from service. From ’43 numbers go up again. 

The rise in numbers is not rapid. This is due to two main factors:

1.     The inability of British industry to provide for a massive surge in 4-engine bomber production.

2.     The heavy losses inflicted on BC by the Luftwaffe’s Night-fighters (Nachtjagd) and the Flak forces.

Compared to the Luftwaffe’s Bomber force the RAF’s BC is numerically inferior in the period 1939-43.

Regarding the types of aircraft, it is interesting to note that many different types are used concurrently. For example in May ’41 there are: Blenheim, Wellington, Whitley, Hampden, Stirling, Manchester, Halifax.

Standardization wins out in the end. In May ’44 there are only four types in use: the Mosquito, the Lancaster, the Stirling and the Halifax.

The effects of Lend Lease are minimal when it comes to BC aircraft. Only a few Boston bombers are used in the period 1942-43 and the B-17 Fortress for a short time in 1941-42.

Further reading: An excellent study of the costs of BC for the British economy can be found here.

RAF forces in Malta 1941-42

In war it is said that it is not the side with the best tanks, or the best guns that wins but the one with the best logistics. This was undoubtedly true in North Africa during WWII.

There both the Axis and Allied forces were entirely depended on outside sources of supply. Fuel, ammunition and even water had to be brought over from faraway places.

The side that managed to transport enough war material while denying the same capability to the enemy would already have a huge advantage.

In this war against supply lines the island of Malta was very important for the British side. Combat aircraft and ships operating from it could intercept Italian convoys.

Time to take a look at RAF strength in Malta during 1941-2:

RAF Strength Malta
	14-Mar-41	2-May-41	9-Sep-41	2-Jan-42	1-May-42	4-Sep-42	25-Dec-42
Hurricane	25	43	71	89	16	6	12
Spitfire					25	142	121
Beaufighter				1	2	30	36
Wellington	7	2	18	21	4	6	36
Maryland	3	5	7	9	1
Blenheim		6	18	32
Beaufort			2			20	5
Hudson				1
Baltimore						5	10
Sum Combat	35	56	116	153	48	209	220

The data comes from daily reports in AIR 22 ‘Air Ministry: Periodical Returns, Intelligence Summaries and Bulletins’. For 1941 the numbers refer to Category A aircraft, meaning those serviceable and those that can be made serviceable within 14 days.

In 1942 the numbers refer to Category A and B aircraft .The classification is changed as Category A refers to serviceable aircraft and Category B to those that can be made serviceable within 14 days.

RAF strength on the island expands during 1941. However in the first half of 1942 the Luftwaffe’s 2^nd Air Fleet mounted a bombing campaign against Malta which effectively neutralized the island. This is seen in the strength return for May 1^st ’42. There is a sharp drop compared to 2 January ’42.

The actual situation is worse than the numbers in the table indicate as there were only 15 serviceable fighters available.

The Germans were thinking about mounting an airborne operation against the island but in the end decided against it and instead used their airforce to support Rommel in N.Africa. 

This allowed the Brits to reinforce Malta and wrestle back control of the air. This is seen in the strength return of 4 September ’42. The RAF strength has been miraculously revived. This time 125 Spitfires are immediately available for operations!

In the second half of ’42 Malta based planes would take a toll on Axis convoys in the Med.