De Haviland knew that at the start of the war and demonstrated it during the war.
Except almost no one believed de Havilland either - "Freeman's folly" and all.
I always imagined the day he pitched this idea to the top RAF brass something like this:
- "I have this great new idea that will make out bomber force much more efficient!"
- "OK, what is it?"
- "Instead of a 4-engined all-metal bomber with lots of guns you all want so much, I'll build a tiny 2 engine bomber."
- "Really? how many gun turrets?"
- "None what so ever!"
- "What will it do against fighters than?"
- "Nothing! I'll make it so fast that fighters will not catch it"
- "Sure you will..."
- "Yes! and we can use the same airframe to build photo-recce, fighter and fighter bomber versions! Isn't that awesome?"
- "This is getting silly. Any other bright ideas?
- "Yes! I'll build it out of Balsa and Plywood!"
- "Get the F### out!"