Shortround6
Major General
It might very well have been possible for the FAA to be better prepared, but it calls for an exceptionally careful path to plotted between the real historical happenings.
The RAF went through a massive expansion in the number of both bomber and fighter squadrons during this time. How much they might have spent on the FAA is certainly subject to question.
However the benefits of this massive RAF expansion are mixed.
The squadrons did exist.
The ground crew and aircrew did exist (or could be called up)
The airfields did exist and/or were upgraded from delicit WW I standards.
All pluses.
The aircraft industry was built up in those years, also a plus even if not anywhere near what would be needed in 1941-42.
On the minus side quite a few totally obsolete or obsolescent aircraft were purchased that were completely useless for modern warfare. This was done so those new squadrons that were being established could have something anything to fly.
The British air industry took too long to go from a a proposal or requirement to actual flying hardware. Could be a number of reasons, working too hard on existing aircraft to meet production deliveries? In any case the prototypes were often worked on in corner of the production shop and may not have had priority. They showed up late and were often obsolete or nearly so when in prototype form. There were exceptions.
Please remember that the Sea Gladiator was NOT what the FAA wanted, it was a temporary substitute to tide them over until the Fulmar could be delivered, But they didn't really want the Fulmar either. The Fulmar was they thought they could get (another temporary substitute) while they waited for the Griffon powered plane they did want.
Having 40-50 more NImrods or Ospreys in 1933-35 doesn't really do much for the FAA in 1938-40 except assist in training .
The RAF went through a massive expansion in the number of both bomber and fighter squadrons during this time. How much they might have spent on the FAA is certainly subject to question.
However the benefits of this massive RAF expansion are mixed.
The squadrons did exist.
The ground crew and aircrew did exist (or could be called up)
The airfields did exist and/or were upgraded from delicit WW I standards.
All pluses.
The aircraft industry was built up in those years, also a plus even if not anywhere near what would be needed in 1941-42.
On the minus side quite a few totally obsolete or obsolescent aircraft were purchased that were completely useless for modern warfare. This was done so those new squadrons that were being established could have something anything to fly.
The British air industry took too long to go from a a proposal or requirement to actual flying hardware. Could be a number of reasons, working too hard on existing aircraft to meet production deliveries? In any case the prototypes were often worked on in corner of the production shop and may not have had priority. They showed up late and were often obsolete or nearly so when in prototype form. There were exceptions.
Please remember that the Sea Gladiator was NOT what the FAA wanted, it was a temporary substitute to tide them over until the Fulmar could be delivered, But they didn't really want the Fulmar either. The Fulmar was they thought they could get (another temporary substitute) while they waited for the Griffon powered plane they did want.
Having 40-50 more NImrods or Ospreys in 1933-35 doesn't really do much for the FAA in 1938-40 except assist in training .