Letter from
the Chief
After the trials
ended and the results were analyzed, the following letter was written by Air
Chief Marshal Sir William Sholto Douglas to the Under Secretary of State for
Air, Lord Sherwood.
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MOST SECRET
Headquarters, Fighter Command Royal Air Force Bentley Priory Stanmore
FC/S. 2947 17th July, 1942
Sir,
I
attach a memorandum on the performance and operational characteristics of
day-fighters, with particular reference to what our position will he in the
Spring of 1941 (not reproduced here). I ask that immediate consideration should
he given to the points raised in this memorandum.
1. It is scarcely necessary for me to emphasize the point that quality is
more important than quantity in the production of fighters. At the beginning of
the war our fighters possessed technical superiority over those of the enemy.
We have gradually lost this lead and we are now in a position of inferiority.
It is essential that this position should he remedied before next spring when
it is anticipated that intensive air fighting will take place.
2. I seem to detect a spirit of complacency in the Ministry of Aircraft
Production. This is borne out by the speeches of the Minister of Production and
the Minister of Aircraft Production in the debate in the House of Commons on
Tuesday, 14 July. They appear to find it difficult to believe that we have
really lost our lead in fighter performance. There is however no doubt in my
mind, nor in the minds of my fighter pilots, that the fw J 90 is the best
all-round fighter in the world today [author's italics). It is no answer to say
that the position will be reversed when the Spitfire IX comes into general use.
In the first place I have only fourteen Spitfire IXs, whereas the enemy has
between two and three hundred Fw 190s. In several respects the Fw 190 is
superior to the Spitfire IX, e.g. in climb and acceleration at certain critical
altitudes and in negative G carburation. The most alarming aspect of the
position however is that, whereas the Spitfire with Merlin engine is almost at
the end of its possible development, the Fw 190 is only in the early stages of
its development. Reports are already to hand of more horsepower being put into
the engine of the Fw 190, and there is no doubt that with its greater engine
capacity, it can in time easily outstrip the Merlin Spitfire in performance.
This in fact is likely to have happened by next spring.
3.
In my opinion therefore this is no time for complacency in regard to the
quality and performance of our day-fighter aircraft. In the attached memorandum
will be found certain suggestions for making the necessary improvements. These
are the result of a study of the problem by my technical staff, who may not
have all the facts and future possibilities at their fingertips. At the same
time I ask that they should be given serious consideration. I have the honour to
be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, (signed) W. S. Douglas Air Chief Marshal
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Fighter Command, Royal Air Force The
under Secretary of State Air Ministry, Whitehall, SW1