Mountbatten’s Melee 42

Introduction

Operation Jubilee brought about some of the fiercest aerial combat since the Battle of Britain raged over the shores, towns and countrysides of England back in 1940. The RAF employed 72 squadrons of aircraft; 48 squadrons of Spitfires, 8 squadrons of Hurricanes, 4 squadrons of Mustang Is, 3 squadrons of Typhoons, 6 squadrons of Bostons, 1 Blenheim squadron, and 2 squadrons of USAAF B-17s in addition to several other types of aircraft in support of operations. The RAF was opposed by two wings of Luftwaffe fighters from JG 2 and JG 26 comprising 190 aircraft. Attack support was provided from KG 2 and elements of anti-shipping support from KG 53, KG 40 and KG 77. The RAF paid a heavy price for their foray into France that day, August 19, 1942. The Luftwaffe held the keys to the clouds with its heavy deployments of the FW190A fighters and Jabos, which wrestled air superiority from the Allies over the beaches. The aerial combat was so heavy and continuous that the invasion fleet remained in peril from the beginning of the attack until the end even with the RAF aerial umbrella overhead. 

Country Percentage

Axis 50%

Allies 50%