Battle of Britain Big Wing | Was the Big Wing a bad idea?

The RAF were regularly outnumbered by the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, earning them the name of the Few. One solution to this was the Big Wing. The Big Wing strategy involved up to five squadrons of fighter aircraft flying together in one large formation, allowing them to meet the oncoming enemy in strength. This tactic has strong support from 12 Group, based at Duxford, including Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory and Squadron Leader Douglas Bader, as well as from Air Ministry and the government. But the Big Wing was a controversial tactic. Among its critics was Head of Fighter Command Hugh Dowding and Air Officer Commander Keith Park – and this opinion that would eventually lead to their downfall.

So was the Big Wing a good idea or not? We’re going to find out.

Get tickets to the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show, 18 & 19 September 2021: https://bit.ly/airshows2021

Plan your visit to IWM Duxford and see where the Big Wing was planned: https://bit.ly/visit-duxford

Footage of the Big Wing at Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show in 2010 courtesy of Planes TV: https://www.youtube.com/user/PlanesTV

Find out more about the Dowding System in our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRfD4xc5fsc

See what archive films were used throughout this video - watch the full films or licence and download them: https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/c/1340

Music credit:
Evolution, https://www.bensound.com

Видео Battle of Britain Big Wing | Was the Big Wing a bad idea? канала Imperial War Museums