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Today is the 80th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain, one of the largest and most consequential air-to-air battles in world history
Germany attempted to take out the RAF in order to either push Britain into some sort of armistice, or to clear the way for a cross-channel invasion (spoiler alert, it doesn't work)
The RAF came up to fight, and the result was massive air battles. Thousands of planes tore across the skies.
The dogfights often left contrails like these through the air.
The dogfights often left contrails like these through the air.
The bulk of the fighting involved Hawker Hurricanes and Spitfires attacking German Dornier 17s and He 111 bombers while also dealing with the Bf 109 escorts.
(gun camera image of a Spitfire taking out an He 111)
(gun camera image of a Spitfire taking out an He 111)
Radar played a key role in the battle, as Britain had built what we might think of today as an integrated air defense system.
Operators like these of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force gave the RAF crucial early warning of incoming German aircraft.
Operators like these of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force gave the RAF crucial early warning of incoming German aircraft.
The participants were an international force. Pilots flying against Germany in the Battle of Britain came from all over, including New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Belgium, France, Poland, and Czechoslovakia
3 squadrons were made up of American volunteers (many who joined through the Royal Canadian Air Force or by other means). Thousands of Americans volunteered, and 244 ended up flying in the 3 "Eagle Squadrons"
Recruitment for the American Eagle squadrons was coordinated partially through Canadian WW1 ace Billy Bishop, and also through the Clayton Knight Committee. Knight was a comic strip artist and illustrator who drew the "Ace Drummond" comics with Eddie Rickenbacker.
The efforts of the nearly 3,000 aircrew, along with thousands more support and defense network personnel, halted the Nazi attacks and kept Britain in the fight against fascism. Many gave their lives.
As Churchill famously said of the Battle: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
A final note that if you're interested in the Battle of Britain and other WW2 aviation and #airpower content, make sure you're following the real expert on it, @SpitfireFilly
