Browning303
Airman
Hi guys, I have a few questions about the long range of the P51 and the German reaction to it. I've included Goering's alleged quote as the title because I think it sheds some light on the German awareness of a fighter that had the range to fly to Berlin, engage in a dogfight, then fly back to England. Presumably the German's knew the allies were attempting to create such a fighter prior to the first mission by P51s to Berlin? Or perhaps they didn't, and weren't even sure such a fighter was technologically possible? Presumably around the same time, they must have been aware of the drop tank technology the allies had as they would have found discarded drop tanks around continental Europe?
When the first allied single engine fighters were seen over Berlin, did the Germans immediately realise that the allies had developed a fighter capable of operating at this distance, or did they just assume a flight of fighters had become disorientated perhaps and flown towards Berlin on a mission rather than in the right direction back to England? Was it only after numerous missions to Berlin and back that the German's realised the allies had a fighter aircraft capable of doing this? Goering's quote suggests he immediately knew the allies were now capable of proving fighter escort all the way to Berlin and back, and he was also immediately aware of the strategic consequences of this.
When the first allied single engine fighters were seen over Berlin, did the Germans immediately realise that the allies had developed a fighter capable of operating at this distance, or did they just assume a flight of fighters had become disorientated perhaps and flown towards Berlin on a mission rather than in the right direction back to England? Was it only after numerous missions to Berlin and back that the German's realised the allies had a fighter aircraft capable of doing this? Goering's quote suggests he immediately knew the allies were now capable of proving fighter escort all the way to Berlin and back, and he was also immediately aware of the strategic consequences of this.