The Battle for Air Supremacy Over the Somme, 1 June-30 November 1916
Abstract
Much has been written about the Battle of the Somme. From July through late November 1916, British, French, and German armies fought one of the costliest battles of the 20th century. Well over a million casualties and only a few miles of ground gained by the Allies were the result when the battle ended. However, little has been written about the second battle which occurred simultaneously, this one in the skies above the Somme, where for the first time in the history of warfare a deliberate attempt was made to control the sky. The British Royal Flying Corps (RFC), under the resolute command of General Sir Hugh Trenchard, fought to gain air supremacy from the German Air Service. Trenchard believed that the best way to support the ground force was to dominate and control the sky above the battlefield. This air campaign was critical because of its impact on the doctrine and theory of air warfare which followed it. This study examines the efforts of the RFC to gain air supremacy against the German Air Service before and during the Battle of the Somme. Appendixes include RFC formation tactics 1916; RFC Order of Battle, 1 July 1916, Battle of the Somme; future policy in the air, September 1916; Boelcke's Dicta on air fighting; Haig's letter to the War Office, 30 September 1916; RFC statistics for the Battle of the Somme, 1 July-17 November 1916; and key British and German fighters used during the air battle over the Somme. A bibliography contains 15 primary sources, 84 secondary sources, and 9 journal articles. (5 figures)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 18, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA428801
Entities
People
- Thomas G. Bradbeer
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College