The Battle of Britain

[Saints1]

70 years ago today.

BBC News - Service marks 70th anniversary of Battle of Britain

Veterans from RAF Fighter Command are taking part in a ceremony to mark 70 years since the Battle of Britain.

On 10 July 1940, the German Luftwaffe bombed London and south east England, but some 3,000 British airmen fought back and prevented a possible invasion.

In a famous speech, Winston Churchill later said of their actions: "Never was so much owed by so many to so few."

Prince Michael of Kent is at the service at the Battle of Britain memorial at Capel-le-Ferne near Dover.

Thousands of people are expected to take part in the memorial service over the course of the day.

Churchill called the battle Britain's finest hour and it helped change the course of World War II.

Of "the few" that took part, it is thought that only about 100 veterans survive. For many in their 80s and 90s this could be the last major anniversary they attend.

The Battle of Britain memorial stands on the white cliffs between Dover and Folkstone, and depicts a seated airman looking out over the sea towards France.

Sunday's service sees Prince Michael, patron of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, joined by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton.

A parade involving veterans and modern-day air cadets, as well as a minute's silence and a wreath-laying was also held.

The service saw a fly-past by a Spitfire and Lancaster Bomber from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The Spitfire involved was the oldest airworthy one in the world and the only one to take part in the Battle of Britain.

Group Captain Patrick Tootal, secretary of the Memorial Trust, said: "The Battle of Britain was, for this country, arguably the most important battle of the 20th century.

"We pay tribute each July to the men of RAF Fighter Command - 'The Few' - who were at the forefront of preventing a possible German invasion, as well as to the many men and women who supported them and helped to ensure that we all live in freedom today."


Critical battle that we hung on in to win, another one of the many points where a defeat might have been the end for us.

 

[Seaton]

Don't you know?

Everything that happened prior to December the 6th 1941 was non-consequential, as the US would have come in regardless to save Europes ass bla bla bla...

Hats off to the brave men and women who fought, and won that battle.
Most important battle of the war for me. As you said a defeat would have allowed zee Germans to invade, and that would have allowed zee germans to send all their troops to Russia, and thus crush them.

 

[Saints1]

Interestingly enough, Operation Sealion (the proposed invasion of Britain) was only ever a proposal. They had the plans in place but I don't think they would ever have gone through with the invasion. Had they done so, we would be very unlikely to have survived. I know I wouldn't be here, my grandad hadn't met his wife to be at the time and he was a tail gunner on the Lancaster bombers, he would have been taken out pretty quickly.

I've read the plans somewhere for Operation Sealion and a documentary I think - Churchill was to be executed almost immediately, although that's more down to the fact that he and Hitler absolutely loathed each other.

 

[Saints1]

Even if you've never had any interest in this, I urge you to watch at least part one of this:

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Might dust off my BoB video and watch it tonight, i must've watched it 100 times when I was a kid

 

[Teh Mite]

We should never forget the stupidity of those generations what came before us, as to never again allow such a painful tax on human life.

 

[Saints1]

Funnily enough Olyy I'm going to watch Battle of Britain later.