page_title: RAF Advanced Air Striking Force
section_title: 13 June
hierarchical_section_title: RAF Advanced Air Striking Force / Fall Rot / 13 June
caption_attribution_description: English: German offensive of june 1940, which led to defeat of France in WWII Română: Ofensiva germană din iunie, care a dus la înfrângerea Franţei în al doilea război mondial
context_page_description: The RAF Advanced Air Striking Force comprised the light bombers of 1 Group RAF Bomber Command, which took part in the Battle of France during the Second World War. Before hostilities began, it had been agreed between the United Kingdom and France that in case of war, the short-range aircraft of Bomber Command would move to French airfields to operate against targets in Nazi Germany. The AASF was formed on 24 August 1939 from the ten squadrons of Fairey Battle light bombers of 1 Group under the command of Air Vice-Marshal Patrick Playfair and was dispatched to airfields in the Rheims area on 2 September 1939.
  The AASF was answerable to the Air Ministry and independent of the British Expeditionary Force. For unity of command, the AASF and the Air Component of the BEF, came under the command of British Air Forces in France on 15 January 1940. Using the bombers for attacks on strategic targets in Germany was set aside due to Anglo-French reluctance to provoke German retaliation and attacks on German military forces and their communications were substituted.
  The Battle of France began with the German invasion of the Low Countries on 10 May 1940.
context_section_description: At dawn six battles flew an armed reconnaissance around Vernon and Évreux in more poor weather, which made it impossible for fighters to escort the Battles, difficult for the crews to see targets and for German fighters to intercept them; there were no losses. Later operations by 150 and 142 squadrons flew in such bad weather that two of the seven Battles turned back. No fighters were able to escort the Battles but four were shot down by Bf 109s. During the afternoon, the French armies east of Paris tried to retreat from the Aisne to the Marne but two armies diverged and German armoured columns rushed through the gap, overtaking some of the retreating French troops past Montmirail towards the Seine. At 3:00 p.m. twelve Battles attacked German columns south of the town and lost one Battle. So many German tanks and vehicles were seen that a maximum effort was made by 26 Battles without fighter escort except for some French fighters but these were busy protecting French bombers. The British bombers were engaged by many German fighters and much anti-aircraft fire; six Battles were shot down, four by fighters. Paris was declared an open city and with the end of hostilities likely, preparations to evacuate the AASF continued as the Battle squadrons fought on without fighter escorts.
caption: Fall Rot, 13–25 June 1940
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