Leading up to the Battle of Britain and World War II, the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe, began their surge by flying and fighting in the Spanish Civil War. It was there that German Aces and fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe honed their skills. It was there they learned to fight and fly, to gain experience in preparation for Hitler's attempt to rule all of Europe and have Germany become a world superpower.

After World War I and the Armistice Germany was forbidden to have an air force. That didn't stop them from developing aircraft nor did it stop them from training young men to become pilots utilising sailplanes. The Germans were very adept at designing and building quality sailplanes. Oftentimes they were launched from hilltops and cliff tops where would-be pilots would learn the skills they'd need to effectively fly and soar. It was the silent beginning to building a new air force.

As Germany entered the 1930s many young men had become proficient pilots and moved on to learning to fly powered aircraft. However, with Germany now producing quality 'airline' aircraft, they were also secretly training these pilots for a more nefarious purposes and, in a few short years, those countries who turned a blind eye to what was happening in Germany would soon learn to regret it.

The Bf109 was initially designed as an interceptor aircraft rather than a fighter. Through progression, and need, the 109 flew in multiple roles including bomber escort, fighter bomber, day & night fighter, reconnaissance and ground attack aircraft. It first few in 1935 and was produced until 1945 and was the most produced fighter aircraft in history with more than 34,000 aircraft having been built.

Then, the Spanish Civil War began, and enter Germany with an 'unauthorised' air force, combing Nazi members from the army & air force, referred to as the Condor Legion, fighting for the Nationalist faction. Their pilots garnering experience in dogfighting, aerial combat and strategic bombing. The future of the German air force, the Luftwaffe, was fully set in motion with the German brass and Hitler collecting experience needed to lead them on their path to becoming a dominating force on the world military stage and Europe was next.

Hitler and Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939. Actually, they ran over Poland. With an ineffective air force Poland stood no chance against the experienced Luftwaffe and their advanced aircraft as well as an experienced German ground force. At the same time, the USSR attacked Poland as well. Polish forces were overwhelmed by the two fronts and Poland capitulated in a very short period. Hitler set his sights on his next targets in Europe including the Low Countries and France. The stage was set for World War II.

In doing so, the Luftwaffe gained more experience. Flying the 109 against mostly inferior aircraft and inexperienced pilots, the Luftwaffe seemed to rule the skies. German pilots were becoming aces quickly, sometimes in a single day. The 109 was fast and lethal. It dominated.... at first.

When Hitler invaded France the Luftwaffe came up against a much better aircraft in the Hawker Hurricane. Though not an exact match to the 109, the Hurricane was more manouevreable, as well as being fast, in the hands of an effective pilot and it could stand up against the 109 and its skilled fighter pilots. Though the more experienced Luftwaffe pilots held the advantage in the skies over France, the RAF was gaining experience and a tougher opponent was waiting in the wings with the RAF. The Spitfire!

However, Messerschmidt continued to develop the 109, incorporating more guns or more canons, making it faster and more lethal. The Luftwaffe used the 109 effectively in battle and the Royal Air Force and their Hurricanes were still outclassed. For the most part, only the Hurricane was used in France before the Battle of Britain because the RAF's Air Chief Marshall Hugh Dowding pleaded with his superiors to keep his precious few Supermarine Spitfires in England to defend Britain against the eventual invasion by Hitler and his forces. That was to prove a wise decision.

As war progressed in Europe it became obvious that France, the last bastion of defence in Europe, would fall and England would stand alone against hatred. Then, Dunkirk. Britain and her people, her Navy, her Army and her Air Force gallantly fought to get as many British troops out of France and back to England. Churchill had hoped for 30,000 troops to be repatriated. He got over 300,000! The Battle of Britain was at hand.

During the battle for France, the Hawker Hurricane and her pilots fought valiantly. They brought down both German fighters and bombers but they also lost many Hurricanes and pilots as well. The RAF did fly some Spitfires across the English Channel to assist but the Spitfire was built for home defence, as was the Hurricane. Their range was limited so the Spitfire's time in the skies over the beaches and coastal areas of France was all too brief though often effective. Many Luftwaffe pilots, both fighter and bomber, learned to respect the pilots of the RAF flying both the Spitfire and the Hurricane.

This week we had a look at the main German fighter aircraft of the Luftwaffe during World War II, the Bf109 as well as her main combatants during the early days of the war, including the Battle of Britain. Next week, we'll return to the war torn skies over Europe and the aircraft of the battles fought in the skies over Britain, France, the Low Countries and Germany.