Russ I think we get down to the art of the possible here.

Fighter Command is still on the defensive (they can't know the Invasion of off) and the Lw is still on the offensive in strategic terms and that has to shape operations. So for RAF fighter presence on the 'wrong' side the channel, I'm seeing mostly dawn hit and runs on airfields with the Sqns being a little more aggressive in following the Lw home during the day. Its the tactical bombers at night that will be clocking up the cross channel hours. Downing has a lot more flexibility in how he engages, without having to try and fend off the OTL Lw bomber raids. So I still see the majority of AtoA combat happening on the UK side of the ditch, so while I agree Lw aircrew losses will be lower than historical not being tied to bombers cuts both ways, and I'd be very surprised if FC loss rates total to the OTL levels over the same time span.

I mean just in the basic stuff, if a Jager Gshw wants to turn up over Dover with a height advantage, they still have to start climbing over France and Chain Home is still going to see them comming, even if the RAF have less reaction time. That in turn means earlier alerts and more airtime which increases the maintenance attrition on the RAF, but they will have a lot more options and opportunity to gain advantageous postilions (once the controllers get on their game). At the same tiume the Lw isn't tied to defending the bombers so have more room to run if they get bounced.

If the Lw wants to come in low under the radar they risk finding the RAF overhead in a position to intercept.

The thing is neither side have have anything they can't afored to lose in this game, if an Lw fighter patrol aren't intercepted London isn't going to burn, and if they get bounced and run bombers arn't going to fall in flames. The whole game looks a lot less conclusive, even if it gets a lot more complicated.


Cheers Imah, does this mean you agree with this rough outline even if we still have issues like numbers to discuss?


shane

Rule .303
Shoot straight, you bastards.

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