I think Goering's message to his fighter unit commanders during the Battle of Britain was that 'the fighters must stay closer to the bombers'. Perhaps two or three fighters should be embedded with the bomber units to at least provide some measure of close protection. I appreciate the best protection is to block the defending fighters from reaching the bombers early but lone hunters will always get through. Our Stuka unit was hit by a lone Beaufighter and a single Spitfire soon after we took off and as we were forming up. A couple of friendly fighters patrolling above the airfield may have made all the difference.
Gibby
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