Author Topic: RAF Role Later in ETO (Read 459 times)

Stoney74 · « **on:** February 19, 2007, 10:42:45 PM »

Just curious, but what types of missions did the RAF Spitfires fly as the war moved across the Channel. Specifically, since they weren't normally escorting British bombers, and the USAAF was doing the daylight stuff, what was the RAF Fighter role in say mid-'44 to the end of the war? Additionally, why didn't the RAF start to acquire fighters with longer legs as did the USAAF?

1K3 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2007, 11:03:54 PM »

Umm I think later spits and other types of daylight RAF planes participated in tactical missions.

Krusty · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2007, 11:34:36 PM »

Typhoons were heavily into ground attack, as were tempests. Some spits carried bombs and rockets as well. They kept busy.

Stoney74 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2007, 11:58:40 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by 1K3
Umm I think later spits and other types of daylight RAF planes participated in tactical missions.

Didn't mean to imply that they "took holiday". I was just interested in learning what they were doing. I knew the Typh's and Tempest did a lot of air-to-ground. I was just curious about the Spitfire units, and specifically why the RAF didn't develop a fighter with longer range.

ramzey · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2007, 01:39:29 AM »

CAP, armed reco, air to ground using mostly bombs, hunting trains, hunting ships, ammo-fuel-food depots, all kind of traffic
Don't forget they had external fuel tank mounted under fuselage and 2 racks for bombs on wings

http://www.geocities.com/skrzydla1/308/308_part6.html
http://www.geocities.com/skrzydla1/308/308_part7.html

just a example of one

Stoney74 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2007, 01:57:36 AM »

Thanks Ramzey, just what I was looking for.