Any dispute about interpreting the BofB?

[Juha]

Hello Tony
To add to Glider1’s comments
2. There are conflicting opinions on Beaverbrook’s time at MAP and probably it is true that he increased both efficiency and chaos in production. But dramatic increase of fighter production wasn't possible in short timeframe, it would have taken time. And the 275 as for LW fighter availability is a myth, if one comment it politely. By end of Sept the number of qualified fighter pilots was the limiting factor for Jagdwaffe, 28 Sept 40 there were 712 serviceable 109s in first-line units but only 676 combat ready pilots to fly them. So much on superior training org of LW. But it’s true that also in RAF Training Command there were ineffectiveness and lack of urgency.
Number 4 is what also I have wondered often.
Number 6. That might also be a myth. For ex 603 Sqn took off from Turnhouse in Scotland on 27 Aug 40 for Hornchurch in Essex. And from there they scrambled first time at 12.25 next day, 2 more scrambles followed before the end of the day.
7. One item is missing, FC succeeded to establish a positive exchange rate. With badly negative exchange rate even being able to outproduce isn’t enough.

Juha

[Larry]

Regarding the threat of invasion, it may be the case that the RN was a force to reckon with but as for the British Army many men arrived from Dunkirk with hardly any kit or clothing let along their weapons. It was a critical time for the Army which lost thousands of vehicles in France. It has been said that for a while there were only 80 tanks left in the UK in June 1940. If the Germans had used paratroops and landed troops the same day as we did on D-Day I think we would have lost. We were hardly invincible on land at that time despite having an Empire.

[Skawinski]

Originally Posted by Larry

If the Germans had used paratroops and landed troops the same day as we did on D-Day I think we would have lost.

I'm not an expert in paratroops, but it seems that after heavy losses in Holland (especially 50% losses in transport fleet) any large scale air landing operation would be very hard, if not impossible to conduct.