Operation Adler

Operation Adler was the code name designated by the Luftwaffe for their air offensive against Great Britain in the summer of 1940.

The Luftwaffe bore the responsibility of neutralizing the Royal Air Force (RAF) and its capability to thwart the planned invasion.

Operational planners were tasked with developing a plan to systematically destroy Great Britain's ability to wage war.

Hermann Göring, the Luftwaffe Commander, violated all seven 'principles of war' as stated in U.S. Army Manual FM 100-5, but still came very close to defeating the RAF.

However, Adlertag and subsequent operations failed to destroy the RAF or gain local air superiority.

[6][7] To the contrary, OKL believed that the radar stations would benefit the German effort by sending RAF forces into large-scale air battles for the Luftwaffe to decimate.

Conversely, the RAF were able to ensure the serviceability rates and aircrew numbers of the Luftwaffe declined in August–September.