Aviation Time-line 1940 - 1942

[David]

May 1940

• Orders of Battle can be found here.
• French squadron GC I/3 receives D.520's and is combat effective on May 10.[4]
• French squadron GC II/3 receives D.520's and is combat effective on/near May 20.[4]
• England is receiving limited shipments of 100 Octane fuel from South Africa and Caribbean.[8]
• Stockpiles of 100 Octane fuel exist in Britain, and are rationed to RAF squadrons.[9]
• Hurricanes during the French campaign were still running on 87 octane.[12]
• 67 DB-7 bombers arrive in France on May 24th. First combat mission May 31st.[2]
• France is producing 11 MS.406 aircraft per day.[4]

June 1940

• In early June, three more squadrons convert to the D.520 (GC III/6, GC II/7, GC III/3).[4]
• All Bf109D fighters finished upgrade to Bf109E by June.[5]
• June 9th, RAF begins re-equipping it's fighters with Rotal 3-blade prop, which is already standard on production models.
• June 11th, RAF equips a Hurricane Mk.I with Rolls Royce Merlin XX engine for test flight.[7]
• Spitfire Mk.II's roll off assembly line with self-sealing fuel tanks, better pilot protection, and a bullet-proof windshield.
• Hurricane Mk.II makes first experimental flight.[7]
• Bf110C's are fitted with bomb-racks and used against targets in France.[4]
• First Two Bf110C-6s are delivered to I. Gruppe ZG.1 for combat testing.
• By late June, SNCAM is producing 1 D.520 per hour.

July 1940

• Battle of Britain begins July 10.
• One Bf109E is tested with the new 1,300-hp DB 601E-1 engine. [1]
• Blenheim IF radar equipped night-fighter scores first radar assisted kill.[6]
• Bf110D enters production.

August 1940

• A small number of Spitfire MkI's outfitted with 2x 20mm cannon. Re-named Spitfire MkIB.[3]
• Both Bf109E and Bf110C units issued upgrade kits for bomb-racks. Suffix added "/B".
• First deliveries of Spitfire MkII's. Most were MkIIA with 8x .303 machine-guns.[3]
• August 15th, RAF completes its upgrade from 2-blade to 3-blade constant speed propellers.
• Use of the Bf110C-6 discontinued over England. Factory orders cancelled.
• England starts to receive regular shipments of 100 Octane fuel from U.S.[8]
• Gloster is producing 130 Hurricane's per month.[3]

September 1940

• He111H-5 upgrade introduced, providing longer range and capacity for 2x 1000kg bombs.
• He111's bomb Spitfire factories in England, halving the estimated monthly output.[10]

October 1940

• Do17U night fighter scores first A2A kill using Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) radar.
• Bf110D/U equipped with FLIR radar.
• The first of 40 Fw190A-0 on order came from the production line for testing.

November 1940

• Spitfire Mk.IB reissued to squadrons as the problems with the Hispano cannon had finally been overcome.
• Hurrcaine Mk.II Series 2 aircraft are tested with Rolls Royce Merlin XX engines.[7]

December 1940

• The Bf109F-1 is combat tested. Structural problems are found, but production begins.[1] & [11]
• The Spitfire Mk.V with Merlin XII engine is test flown.[7]

January 1941

• First Bf109F-1 fighters are issued to operational units.[1]

February 1941

• Hurricane MkII goes into production. Mk.IIA (8x .303) MkII.B (12x .303) MkII.C (4x 20mm).
• Merlin 45 engine married to Mk.II airframe and the Spit MK.V is born, upgrades begin immediately.[7] & [11]

March 1941

• Air Ministry (RAF) places an order for 1500 Spitfire Mk.V's.
• By late March the Spitfire Mk.V production models are being issued to combat units.[7]

April 1941

• Bf109F-4 deployed, fixing many of the Bf109F-1 problems.
• First orders of Spitfire Mk.V are delivered.

May 1941
June 1941

• The first Fw 190A-1 planes came off the production line at the Focke-Wulf Marienburg factory.

July 1941

• Last Spitfire Mk.II's delivered.

August 1941

• Fw190A-1 is ready for combat operations and is issued to II/JG.26 for combat testing.

September 1941

• RAF becomes aware of the Fw190A-1. It outclasses the Spit V, which at time equipped 26 RAF squadrons.[11]

October 1941

• Me163 Rocket Plane prototype sets an unofficial speed record of 623mph (over 1000km/h).
• Junkers Ju-87D-1 Stuka begins regular service.[4]

November 1941
December 1941

• December 7 - Japan attacks Pearl Harbor.
• December 8 - United States enters World War II on the Allied side.