Quote:
Originally Posted by Crumpp
Why would you do that Glider? I don't think anyone is saying that.
What would be worth it to do is change the fuel type when the units rotated out for rest and refit. They are not doing any operational flying under that status and unless they had an additional mission to gather data on the fuels use, there is no reason to continue to use 100 Octane. I am sure maintenance trend data over as many hours of flight time was required before the entire force converted but you don't need it from every squadron.
Crumpps steps to conversion.....
If I wanted to convert and it was not possible to convert the entire force, the first thing I would do is get as much 100 Octane gas to the airfields as I could before anyone converted. Then my conversion pool has a supply of gas.
The next thing I would do is convert as many squadrons as possible to be able to use 100 Octane. That timeline is going to be based on how fast the parts required can enter the system and reach the point of use. I would convert as many aircraft as possible without violating the required logistical ratio so my airplanes can continue to fly and I am not without airplanes due to maintenance awaiting parts. Now I have pool of capable aircraft.
As much as possible all of my operational squadrons using 100 Octane would be down in 11 Group in the thick of the action.
If logistics said I only had enough fuel for 16 squadrons by September then you can bet when a squadron rotated out for rest and refit, they would go back to 87 Octane and their replacement would come from that pool of converted units.
As logistics increased my usable fuel supply, I would add operational squadrons to other areas until the entire force was converted.
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I don't know the exact figures.. It's late..But
If you were in a Squadron you were operational. End of. No matter which Group you were part of.
If you read Bungays Most Dangerous Enemy he gives figures for the number of reserve (or non-operational) Aircraft that the RAF had. It is quite a large number and it was kept at an almost constant level for the duration of the BoB.
There was no rest and refit. Except where a squadron had been decimated.
They were simply rotated to less busy groups. All of the RAF's fighter groups were "operational" they were all involved in combat throughout. There were raids on Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Southampton, Newcastle, Coventry, Wolverhampton ... I could go on.
Please don't try and tell me 9,10,11,12,13 or 14 Group were not operational. They were.
You're basically saying that seasoned fighter pilots were told that they no longer needed 100 octane because they were part of 14 group?
You expect me to believe that they sat on thier airfield and said "Jerry's not coming today boys.. better fill up with 87 octane"
No way. The most important factor for interception is how fast you can get some altitude (the only real advantage of 100 octane)
100 octanes importance has nothing to do with the unrealistic turning fights depicted in CloD and how it affected the chances against a 109. It was about getting up there where the bombers were. It is stupid to assume that because they were no longer in the south east that this factor changed.
It may well be that OTU's were running on 87, but...
I'd like someone to find me a fighter squadron that was non operational during the BoB.