Battle of Britain Day

[Locutus]

The most decisive confrontation of the Battle of Britain took place in the skies above London on 15 September.

Photo: The average age of an RAF pilot in 1940 was 20. The strain they were under is clearly written on the face of Squadron Leader B J E 'Sandy' Lane (centre), pictured here aged 23. He was killed in combat 2 years later. (IWM CH1366)

BBC - History - Battle of Britain Day (pictures, video, facts & news)

Battle of Britain.The Real Story (Documentary Film) - YouTube

 

[Blackleaf]

Had Britain not won the Battle of Britain, the allies would almost certainly have lost the war right near the start.

The Battle of Britain, which took place when the British Empire was the only power taking on Nazi Germany, was Nazi Germany's first major defeat of the war. Had Britain lost the battle or capitulated either the Nazis or the Soviets would have dominated Europe, with the US being able to do little to change things.

The Battle of Britain was the last battle to be fought in Britain.

Battle of Britain (part of WWII)

Date: 10 July – 31 October 1940 (3 months and 3 weeks)
Location: United Kingdom airspace
Belligerents: United Kingdom VS Nazi Germany
Commanders: Hugh Dowding (UK); Hermann Goering (Nazi Germany)
Strength: RAF (1,963 serviceable aircraft); Luftwaffe (2,550 serviceable aircraft)
Casualties and losses: (RAF: 544 aircrew killed; 422 aircrew wounded; 1,547 aircraft destroyed); Luftwaffe (2,698 aircrew killed; 967 captured; 638 missing bodies indentified by British authorities; 1,887 aircraft destroyed)
Result: Decisive British victory

The Battle of Britain rages in the skies above London. Lasting over 3 months it ended as a decisive British victory, with Nazi Germany suffering its first major defeat of the war. Had Britain lost the battle or capitulated either the Nazis or the Soviets would have dominated Europe, with the US being able to do little to change things.