Air Power and the Evacuation of Dunkirk: The RAF and Luftwaffe during Operation Dynamo, 26 May – 4 June 1940

Description

The evacuation of Dunkirk has been immortalised in books, prints and films, narrated as a story of an outnumbered, inexperienced RAF defeating the battle-hardened Luftwaffe and protecting the evacuation. This book revives the historiography by analysing the air operations during the evacuation. Raffal draws from German and English sources, many for the first time in the context of Operation DYNAMO, to argue that both sides suffered a defeat over Dunkirk. . This work examines the resources and tactics of both sides during DYNAMO and challenges the traditional view that the Luftwaffe held the advantage. The success that the Luftwaffe achieved during DYNAMO, including halting daylight evacuations on 1 June, is evaluated and the supporting role of RAF Bomber and Coastal Command is explored in detail for the first time. Concluding that the RAF was not responsible for the Luftwaffe's failure to prevent the evacuation, Raffal demonstrates that the reasons lay elsewhere. Cover Contents List of Figures and Tables Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction 1 The two forces 2 The Luftwaffe’s attacks, 29 May and 1 June 3 The suspension of daylight evacuations 4 The Luftwaffe’s attacks on Dunkirk before 29 May 5 The Luftwaffe’s attacks on Dunkirk on 30–31 May 6 Results, limitations and potential of Luftwaffe night attacks and mine operations 7 RAF and Luftwaffe fighter operations during Dynamo 8 The operations of Coastal Command 9 The operations of Bomber Command Conclusion Appendices Bibliography Index