Originally Posted by
Ken Scott
I think it’s safe to say that had Fighter Command in 1940 been part of the RFC and the RAF didn’t exist, then more fighter squadrons would have been committed to the battle in France by General Dowding or whoever was in charge, and the outcome of the BoB been slightly different.
Once the Germans had gone down the route of producing the Luftwaffe it needed a complete change of direction to actually defend our country. The ADGB needed a dedicated service and radical thinking to enable new technology to be incorporated into what would be a new way of waging war. Although the emerging RAF reached across the globe to assist with protecting our interests the Air defence of GB was a major part of its business hence the need to design a complete system that was ahead of its time. With experienced former Army officers looking after the tactical side, both the aircraft industry and the 'boffins' rose to the challenge of producing the tech products that would be needed. It just so happens that the RAF got some very capable leaders that put effort in to preparing for a 'new war' as opposed to what they had experienced themselves. That was the game changer that made the difference, and it had to work straight of the box so to speak as there would not have been a second chance. The fact that the system coped with a major change in circumstances shows how lucky we were to have had the best people in charge at the time.