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Gen Spaatz said Germany misused its fighters in the Battle of Britain. What was the mistake?

Fighters flew close support of bombers instead of hunting enemy fighters.

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  1. They flew too far ahead of the bombers
  2. They stayed close to guard the bombers ✔
  3. They were kept at home

Why: Spaatz said the German fighters' real job was to destroy British fighters and win control of the air. Tied down guarding lightly armed bombers, they could never win that control.

Huh, didn't know that: The other two German mistakes on his list: weakly armed bombers and no precision bombing.

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Why did the fighter plane feel stuck? It was always on babysitting duty.
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References

Answer: They stayed close to guard the bombers. Spaatz said the German fighters' real job was to destroy British fighters and win control of the air. Tied down guarding lightly armed bombers, they could never win that control.

  1. Learn to Lead, Volume 4: Strategic Perspectives, reading 14.1 (Civil Air Patrol) www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/Volume_4_Web_4028F891F0A14.pdf
    use of the fighters in close support of the bombers instead of in general support.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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