05-22-2008, 12:23 PM
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Aviation Time-line 1940 - 1942
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.
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