French Air Force 1940

Kyt · 17-10-2007, 11:06 AM

The French Air Force In 1940: Was It Defeated by the Luftwaffe or by Politics?

This is an interesting article - I'd be interested in what other people think:

http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/a.../kirkland.html

Antipodean Andy · 17-10-2007, 12:08 PM

Fighter force? Fighter farce more like it despite the quality men and machines.

I wonder if the British Isles had been the subject of the initial attack instead of France, including invasion (ignoring geographic concerns and just concentrating on force readiness and equipment), whether the RAF would have suffered from the same inefficiencies? France was a blooding of the RAF at the time and, although I'm no expert, I imagine many things would have been learnt. The RAF then had the opportunity to "sort itself out" and have another go with the BoB.

Too general?

spidge · 17-10-2007, 03:01 PM

Well it seems by this that the Air Force was prepared to lose the battle to win/retain their independence. By not having the high ranking officers they were also doomed to play a supporting role instead of a "complete" unified attacking role which on paper was entirely feasible.

They were all looking in the wrong place for their enemy even at the expense of their allies. The French did not have a forward thinking and strong political animal like Roosevelt who "stood" on the Army with a "soft" pair of slippers. By appointing Marshall, and Marshall subsequently appointing Maxwell they headed off the Army interference of the Air Arm.

Also, without the strength of Dowding to stand up to Churchill , the French would have sapped the RAF of vital aircraft that were going to be needed for the defence of Britain.

The ageing high command in France failed miserably by trying to fight WW2 just as they had fought WW1.

This inter service rivalry, political interference and an incompetent high command sealed the fate of France and nearly brought Britain to its knees as a consequence.

They also had armor that was comparable to the Germans however they used that poorly as well. De Gaulle had the right idea (Guderian had taken notice of De Gaulles "Army of the Future") but was hobbled at every turn by Petain.