Quote:
Originally Posted by Six Nifty .50s
The bombers were the attackers, while the fighter escort mission was largely defensive in nature. When and if the numbers of fighter escorts increased dramatically, some might venture further afield to hunt for targets of opportunity. Otherwise the escorts could only react to enemy counterattacks, which tended to occur at a time and place of the enemy's own choosing.
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Six Nifty .50s is spot on with this comment. And this was perfectly illustrated in one of the many conversations I had with Otto Hintze, who led the Jabo 109 Staffel of Erprobungsgruppe 210 during the Battle of Britain (for those who may not know who he is). Hintze said that en route to a target, inconcert with the Stab and Bf 110 Staffeln of the unit, his 3. Staffel were solely charged to get to the target and bomb it as their first responsibility (attackers). Once that was achieved, they could then move to protect the slower Bf 110s of the unit, as required (defenders). Going into the target last, things did not always work out as planned, as with the Croydon raid of 15/8/40, but the defensive work was amply illustrated on that raid by Lt. Marx trying to escort his Commanding Officer safely back to France but in the process getting shot down himself. The 109s of 3./210 illustrate perfectly Six Nifty .50s point about attackers and defenders, in this case in a single Staffel.