Bergström - The Battle of Britain

Copyright 2014 & 2015 Christer Bergstrm.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be mailed to

This edition of The Battle of Britain: An Epic Conflict Revisited
first published 2015.
First published in Swedish by Vaktel Frlag 2014.
Original Swedish edition: Slaget om England
2014 Christer Bergstrm
English translation copyright 2015 Christer Bergstrm
Translation assistants Donald Bryant, Louise Strmbck
Cover design: Sarah Ommanney
Colour illustrations: Jim Laurier
Layout: Fredrik Gustafson
Maps: Samuel Svrd,
Front cover photos: Top: Hawker Hurricane, The Royal
Aeronautical Society (National Aerospace Library)/Mary Evans
Picture Library. Bottom: Pilots seen running to their aircraft during the Battle of Britain. IWM (HU 49253)
Printing: Printon Publishing House, Estonia.
ISBN 978-1-61200-347-4
Digital ISBN: 978-1-61200-364-1

Casemate UK
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OX1 2EW, United Kingdom
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Casemate Publishers
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www.casematepublishing.com

Vaktel frlag
Box 3027
S-630 03 Eskilstuna
Sweden
www.vaktelforlag.se

CONTENTS

GLOSSARY AND GUIDE TO ABBREVIATIONS

A.I. Airborne interception (British) an aircraft on-board interception radar.

AufklObdL Aufklrungsgruppe Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe German reconnaissance aviation group of the commander of the Luftwaffe.

Bf (Bayerische Flugzeugwerke) German aircraft designer; original designation of Messerschmitt 109 and 110. The abbreviations Bf 109/110 or Me 109/110 are both correct.

Bordfunker (German) Radio operator in an aircraft.

DB Daimler-Benz.

DFC Distinguished Flying Cross.

DFM Distinguished Flying Medal.

Do Dornier, German aircraft designer.

DSO Distinguished Service Order.

Ergnzungsgruppe Replacement wing, (German) a training unit that prepared aircrew for operations on a particular type or types of aircraft or roles.
The equivalent of the British OTU.

ErprGr Test group, Erprobungsgruppe. German unit assigned to test various aircraft types and methods in combat (compare Lehr/-Geschwader.)

Erprobungs/-Gruppe (German) see .

Fernaufklrer (German) long-distance (strategic) reconnaissance aircraft.

F.I.U. Fighter Interception Unit (British), a special interceptor aircraft unit of the RAF, tasked to evaluate technological advances such as airborne interception (A.I.).

Fliegerkorps (German) German aviation corps.

F/O Flying Officer.

Fw Focke Wulf, German aircraft designer.

He Heinkel, German aircraft designer.

Heinkel He 113 A hoax by German propaganda a non-existent single-engined fighter plane, often erroneously appearing in RAF reports as a confusion with Bf 109s.

Hptm Hauptmann.

Geschwader (German) group, usually consisting of three Gruppe with a total of about 120 aircraft.

Geschwaderkommodore (German) Commander of a Geschwader, not a military rank.

Gruppe (German) Wing, consisting of three Staffel with a total of 40 aircraft.

Gruppenkommandeur (German), commander of a Gruppe.

Heeresaufklrer (German) German Army (tactical) reconnaissance aviation group.

(J) Jagd, German designation for fighter aviation.

Jaf Jagdfliegerfhrer, fighter leader, the commander of the fighter units within a certain air fleet (Luftflotte).

Jagd (German) German designation for fighter aviation.

JG Jagdgeschwader, fighter group.

Ju Junkers.

Kampf (German) German designation for bomber aviation.

KG (German) Kampfgeschwader, bomber group.

KGr (German) Kampfgruppe, bomber wing.

Knickebein (German) Navigational device through radio beams. The name was taken from the German legend of the bird who could see in the dark.

KFlGr Kstenfliegergruppe, (German) coastal air unit.

Lehr (-Geschwader) (German) Learn, German unit assigned to test various aircraft types and methods in comnbat (compare Erprobungs-.)

LG Lehrgeschwader, learn group.

Luftflotte (German) air fleet.

Luftwaffe (German) the German Air Force.

Maggiore Italian military rank, equivalent to the RAFs Squadron Leader or the Luftwaffes Major.

Maresciallo Italian military rank, equivalent to the RAFs Warrant Officer.

Me Messerschmitt, the new designation of Bayerische Flugzeugwerke since this had been overtaken by Willy Messerschmitt.

MG Maschinengewehr, machine gun (German).

Mk. (British) Mark.

NCO Non-commissioned officer, a military officer who has not been given a commission

NJG Nachtjagdgeschwader (German) night fighter group.

Oblt Oberleutnant.

Obstlt Oberstleutnant.

OTU Operational Training Unit (British) a training unit that prepared aircrew for operations on a particular type or types of aircraft or roles. The equivalent of German Ergnzungsgruppe.

P/O Pilot Officer.

RAF Royal Air Force.

RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force.

Reichsmarschall Reich (Realm) Marshal, the rank of the Luftwaffe C-in-C from 19 July 1940.

Rotte (German) A pair of aircraft operating as a team.

Rottenflieger (German) Wingman, No. 2 in a Rotte.

Rottenfhrer (German) Commander of a Rotte.

(S) Schlacht, battle, (German) assault (ground-attack) aviation.

Schwarm (German) Two Rotte in a formation, called finger-four in the RAF.

Seenotflugkommando (German) Air-sea rescue service.

Sergente Italian military rank, equivalent to the RAFs Sergeant or the Luftwaffes Feldwebel.

Sergente Maggiore Italian military rank, equivalent to the RAFs Flight Sergeant or the Luftwaffes Oberfeldwebel.

Sgt Sergeant.

S/Ldr Squadron Leader.

Sottotenente Italian military rank, equivalent to the RAFs Flight Sergeant or the Luftwaffes Oberfeldwebel.

Sqdn (British) Squadron.

Staffel (German) Squadron, consisting of twelve aircraft in 1940.

Staffelkapitn (German), the commander of a Staffel.

Stuka (German) Abbreviation of Sturzkampf, dive-bomb aviation.

(St) (German) Abbreviation of Sturzkampf, dive-bomb aviation.

StG Sturzkampfgeschwader, dive-bomber group.

WAAF Womens Auxiliary Air Force (British).

Wekusta Wettererkundungsstaffel, (German) weather reconnaissance squadron.

WNr (German) Werknummer, works number.

Tenente Italian military rank, equivalent to the RAFs Flying Officer or the Luftwaffes Oberleutnant.

V formation Three-plane formation flying in the form of a V.

Vee formation Three-plane formation flying in the form of a V.

Vic Three-plane formation flying in the form of a V.

X-Gert (German) X-device, German radio beam aviation navigation system.