Appendix 5: First-line Aircraft—British, German and Italian Air Forces
| Date | RAF* | German§ | Italian |
| 30th September 1938 | 1,982 | 3,307 | |
| 3rd September 1939 | 1,911† | 4,131 | |
| 1st August 1940 | 2,913‡ | 4,549 | 1,529** (June) |
Footnotes
* These figures are based on the official ‘establishment’ for the initial equipment (I.E.) of squadrons, home and overseas. In addition, there was an immediate reserve (I.R.) varying from 4 to 5 aircraft per squadron. After June 1944 this initial equipment and immediate reserve were grouped together in what became known as unit equipment (U.E.).
† The decline in first-line aircraft in September 1939 as compared with September 1938 was due ( a) to the withdrawal of obsolescent aircraft, and ( b) to the relegation of certain ‘non-mobilizable’ bomber squadrons to form a reserve and operational training organization at the outbreak of war.
‡ Include aircraft of Dominion and Allied air forces under RAF contl.
§ The German figures, which are extracted from Luftwaffe records, are for actual strength. They include in each case a powerful force of transport aircraft—308 in September 1938, 552 in September 1939, 375 in August 1940.
** This figure is an official Italian total to the nearest available date.