RAF front line strength 1939-1945

[alejandro_]

I would like to know if there are any data regarding the front line strength of the RAF between 1939 and 45. The idea is to make a few graphs like the one below, with number of aircraft and corresponding period. If someone could give me the reference of an AIR archive it would be great:

First line aircraft deployed against Germany by USAAF between 1942-45:

Different fighter strength in Fighter Command:

Similar sources for Luftwaffe, Fighter Command and USAAF:

- http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090608-042.pdf
- AIR 40/1207: The German Air Force: first line strength at three monthly intervals during the European War 1939-1945.
- AIR 16/1036: Monthly operational summaries of Fighter Command, ADGB, 2nd TAF

 

[parsifal]

hi Alejandro

I dont know if this is of any help, but a starting reference may be Ellis's statistical reference.

For the RAF it lists the following front line strengths at selected dates

9/39: 1660
8/40: 2913
6/41: 3106
12/41: 4287
12/42: 5257
6/43: 6026
12/43 6646
6/44; 8339
12/44: 8395
4/45: ca8000

The RAF also received considerable suppot from the Commonwealth, in particaulr Canada and Australia

The Canadians began the war with 270 obsolete aircraft, 84 squadrons were formed, of which 44 served overseas. The majority of the Canadian squadrons arrived in two contingents, the largest inn 1939, and another block of squadrons arriving in 1942. There were much smaller additions in every other year.


The Australians had a frontline strength of 164 aircraft in 1939, and from an early stage effectively formed two air forces....the RAAF proper, which stayed in Austrlia, and later fought the Japanese, and the overseas striking force, that effectively became part of the RAF. severnteen squadrons fought in Europe. 8 were raised in 1941, another 8 in 1942, and one in 1943. A total of 55 RAAF squadrons were formed. In Deecember 1941, the RAAF had just 77 frontline aircraft in the pacific. In April 1943, the RAAF fielded a total of 1043 aircraft, which had increased to 3187 by 1945. By 1945, RAAF frontline strength was actually more than the Germans

Dont have any figures for the New Zealanders

 

[alejandro_]

I dont know if this is of any help, but a starting reference may be Ellis's statistical reference.

Thanks parsifal. Can you give me the reference for Elli's? is it a book or a website?

 

[parsifal]

My copy is a photocopied version, without the front pges, so i dont have the publishing details. The reference is a hard cover publication. i am not aware of any electronic versions online

However here is a link to a copy available at Amazon

Amazon.com: World War II: A Statistical Survey: The Essential Facts and Figures for All the Combatants (9780816029716): John Ellis: Books: Reviews, Prices more

 

[alejandro_]

My copy is a photocopied version, without the front pges, so i dont have the publishing details. The reference is a hard cover publication. i am not aware of any electronic versions online

Thanks Parsifal. One final question: Does the book give a reference in the bibliography section for these numbers?

 

[parsifal]

Unfortunately, not, and this is a major flaw in the book. The book has an amazing amount of material concerning WWII statistics, but you cant verify the numbers easily