Hello tomo pauk:
Whenever I see this "Spit went for fighters so Hurricane could do the bombers" stuff, I politely ask people to back the statement up, or to withdraw it. Sure enough, no one has the facts to back it up...
I'm pointing out that policy/doctrine 'Let's battle escorts with Spits, so Hurricanes can get bombers' was never backed up with facts on this forum (or anywhere AFAIK), so we could positively know it was an official policy/doctrine.
Please note the following excerpts from instructions written by Air Vice Marshall K. R. Park, Air Officer Commanding, No. 11 Group, Royal Air Force
5 September 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 10.
5. The enemy's main attack must be met in maximum strength between the coast and our line of Sector aerodromes. Whenever time permits, Squadrons are to be put into battle in pairs. Some Spitfire Squadrons are to be detailed to engage the enemy fighter screen at 20,000 or more feet. The Hurricanes, because of their inferior performance, should normally be put in against the enemy bombers, which are rarely above 16,000 feet by day.
16 September 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 18.
2. The Spitfire Squadrons of Hornchurch and Biggin Hill are, in clear weather, to be detailed in pairs to attack the high fighter screen which is normally between 25,000 and 30,000 feet.
5. If it appears that the first wave of raids are high flying fighters, act as follows:
(i) Detail not less than several pairs of Spitfires to fighter screen;
(ii) Get ample Hurricane Squadrons rendezvoused in pairs in the region of Sector aerodromes.
(iii) Get Northolt and Tangmere Squadrons to Readiness to despatch as wings of three Squadrons to intercept the enemy's second or third wave, which normally contains bombers.
4 October 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 24.
4. Whenever time permits, I wish Group Controllers to get the Readiness Squadrons in company over Sector aerodromes, Spitfires 25,000 feet, Hurricanes 20,000 feet, and wait till they report they are in position before sending them to patrol lines or to intercept raids having a good track in fairly clear weather.
8 October 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 26.
2. When a Spitfire Squadron is ordered to Readiness Patrol on the Maidstone Line, its function is to cover the area Biggin Hill-Maidstone-Gravesend, while the other Squadrons are gaining their height, and protect them from the enemy high Fighter Screen. The form of attack which should be adopted on the high enemy fighters is to dive repeatedly on them and climb up again each time to regain height.
17 October 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 30
Engagement of High Fighter Raids
The general plan is to get one of two Spitfire Squadrons to engage enemy fighters from above about mid-Kent, in order to cover other Spitfire and Hurricane Squadrons whilst climbing to operating height at back patrol lines East and South of London.
17 October 1940: Instructions to Controllers No. 31
Engagement of Mass Bomber Attacks on the London Area.
General Plan:
To engage enemy FIGHTER SCREEN with Spitfire Squadrons from Hornchurch and Biggin Hill half-way between London and the coast, and so enable Hurricane Squadrons from North Weald, Kenley and Northolt to attack bomber formations plus close escort before they reach the line of fighter aerodromes East and South of London. The remaining Squadrons around London that cannot be got up in time to intercept the first wave, to provide a rear screen by climbing over the line of aerodromes East and South of London.
2. The Squadrons from Debden and Tangmere (if disengaged), to be despatched and employed in Wings or pairs, so as to form a screen East and South-East of London to intercept third or fourth wave coming inland, also retreating earlier waves.
Spitfire Squadrons:
3. Assembled at height in pairs on back patrol lines, then detailed to engage high fighter screen at 30,000 feet.
Role: To protect pairs or Wings of Hurricane Squadrons whilst climbing up, also while attacking bombers plus escort. If the high fighter screen withdraws to the coast, a proportion of the Spitfires may be detailed to attack the escorts to incoming bomb raids.
Hurricane Squadrons:
4. Squadrons at Readiness to be despatched in pairs to back patrol lines covering line of aerodromes. Immediately pairs have reached operating height, detail to bomb raids or to forward patrol lines under Spitfires. Squadrons at Available to be brought to Readiness and assembled in pairs at operating height on back patrol lines covering Sector aerodromes, and detailed to second wave of bomb raids.
5. Whilst gaining height the latter Squadrons may have to be detailed to split raids by bombers that attempt to attack vital points on the flank of the mass of bombers plus escort.
Hurricane Squadrons from Flank Sectors (Debden, Tangmere, and possibly Northolt):
6. Despatch in pairs or Wings, according to the clouds, to patrol mid-Kent patrol lines at 20,000 to 25,000 feet to engage
(i) Third or fourth wave attacks of bombers plus escort;
(ii) Retreating bomb raids of first and second wave;
(iii) To protect fighter aerodromes whilst the earlier Hurricane and Spitfire Squadrons are refueling.
Reinforcement from other Groups:
7. Immediately the enemy bombers appear to be more than 150, request two or three Squadrons to cover the Northern approaches to London, or the South-Western Group of vital points near London, as directed in Controllers Instructions No. 7 , dated August 27th 1940.