Editing RAF Fighter Command (section)

=== 1942–45 ===
[[File:Spitfire Tipping V-1 Flying Bomb.jpg|thumb|A [[Spitfire]] tipping the wing of a [[V-1 flying bomb|V-1]], which disrupted the missile's automatic pilot during [[Operation Crossbow#V-1 defence|Operation Crossbow]], 1944.]]
The difficult task of slowly grinding down the Germans continued into 1942 and 1943. Squadrons also found themselves on tiring defensive patrols as small formations of Fw 190s flew 'hit and run' nuisance raids along the south coast and the [[Hawker Typhoon]] came into squadron service. On 19 August, during the [[Dieppe Raid]], the RAF had an opportunity to engage large numbers of {{lang|de|Luftwaffe}} aircraft. The Spitfire squadrons (42 with Mark Vs, and four with Mark IXs) flew ground-attack, escort and air-superiority sorties and prevented the {{lang|de|Luftwaffe}} from interfering in the ground and sea battle, claiming 106 victories. Postwar analysis showed that the RAF lost 106 aircraft, including 88 fighters and 18 bombers; 29 fighter losses were from flak, one ran out of fuel, two collided and one was a victim of friendly fire.<ref>Franks 1998, pp. 56–62.</ref> The actual {{lang|de|Luftwaffe}} loss was 48 aircraft, 28 being bombers, half of them [[Dornier Do 217]]s from [[KG 2]]. JG 2, lost 14 Fw 190s and eight pilots killed, JG 26 lost six Fw 190s with their pilots.<ref name="Weal 1996, p. 26">Weal 1996, p. 26.</ref> Spitfire losses stood at 70 destroyed and damaged to all causes; the number lost to Fw 190s is unknown.<ref>Franks 1998, p. 56-62.</ref><ref>Delve 2007, p. 73.</ref> The {{lang|de|Luftwaffe}} claimed 61 of the 106 RAF machines lost, which included all types, JG 2 claiming 40 and JG 26 claiming 21.<ref name="Weal 1996, p. 26" /> In 1942 Fighter Command claimed 560 victories against a true loss of 272 German fighters from all causes, for 574 RAF day fighters destroyed.<ref>The JG 26 War Diary (Volume 1), Caldwell (1996)</ref>

By the autumn of 1942, the arrival of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) [[Eighth Air Force|8th Air Force]] and its daylight bombers added bomber escort to Fighter Command's tasks. Until American [[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]] fighter groups were operational in May 1943, the command's Spitfires performed a key role in protecting the increasing numbers of [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]]es and [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]]s operating over Occupied Europe. The Spitfire's chronic lack of operational range – not unlike [[Aircraft of the Battle of Britain#German fighter fuel capacity|the Bf 109E's dilemma]] during the Battle of Britain – meant such protection was limited to the Channel and the European coast. The Spitfire had a range of only {{convert|479|miles}}.<ref>Jane 1946, pp. 139–141.</ref>

In February 1944, Fighter Command was split into the [[Air Defence of Great Britain]] (ADGB), the former name of Fighter Command, to defend Britain, and the [[RAF Second Tactical Air Force|Second Tactical Air Force]], to support ground forces after the invasion of Europe.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Dildy|first1=Douglas|title=Fighter Command: the Original IADS|journal=RAF Salute 2016|year=2016|page=57|publisher=Key Publishing|location=Stamford|isbn=9781910415672}}</ref> On 15 July, [[No. 14 Group RAF]] (established 26 June 1940) was disestablished. In 1944 ADGB made the greatest effort in its history during [[Operation Overlord]], the invasion of France which began on 6 June. RAF and Allied fighter units suppressed the meagre German air opposition and supported ground forces by strafing German positions and transport. Later that year, the final test of ADGB (renamed Fighter Command in October 1944) in the war occurred against the [[V-1 flying bomb#Countermeasures in England|V-1 flying bomb]] during [[Operation Crossbow#V-1 defence|Operation Crossbow]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Eden|first1=Paul E|title=Fighter Command...Again|journal=RAF Salute|date=2016|page=75|publisher=Key |location=Stamford|isbn=9781910415672}}</ref> RAF fighters also flew long-range night intruder operations against German airfields and aircraft (e.g. at take-off/landing) at the time the {{lang|de|Luftwaffe}} night fighters would be scrambled against [[RAF Bomber Command]] (see [[Bombing of Peenemünde in World War II#Operation Whitebait and other raids of that night|Operation Hydra]]).<ref>{{Harvnb|Irving|1964|pp=214, 249.}}</ref>

In January 1945, Fighter Command included 10, 11, 12 and 13 Groups, plus [[No. 38 Group RAF|38 (Airborne Forces) Group]], [[No. 60 Group RAF|60 Group]], and [[No. 70 Group RAF|70 (Training) Group]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of RAF commands January 1945 |url=https://usacac.army.mil/sites/default/files/documents/carl/nafziger/945BARB.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213215937/https://usacac.army.mil/sites/default/files/documents/carl/nafziger/945BARB.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 February 2020}}</ref> 10 Group was disestablished on 2 May 1945, and 70 Group on 17 July 1945.<ref>[http://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/Grp06.htm Air of Authority, List of Groups 70 - 106], accessed September 2020.</ref> In 1946, 60 Group was amalgamated with [[No. 26 Group RAF|26 Group]] to become [[No. 90 (Signals) Group RAF|90 (Signals) Group]] and transferred to Transport Command/British Air Force of Occupation. From 1939 to 1945, RAF Fighter Command lost 3,690 killed, 1,215 wounded and 601 POW; 4,790 aircraft were lost.<ref>'Fighter Command' Chaz Bowyer, 1980</ref>