I saw a documentary recently, ITV I think,
late at night called the Battle of Britain
I watched it somehow expecting it to
be one of a series. But have never seen
a part two. It wasn't all that well made but
it made quite an impact on me.
Essentially it drew on the experiences of
several veterans from one squadron,
the number escapes me. They used
mostly stock shots and BoB film clips.
But it was the way the introduced us to
various members of the squadron, the
two Polish pilots and other characters
showed us photos, described their activities
on and off duty and in a form of chronology
described daily events and what happened
to them. The two poles were lost as were
many of the others. Survivors described
them and their own fate, shot down wounded,
burned.
A woman read a letter from
her fighter pilot fiance, then we learn his
fate.
It was all quite affecting, for the first time
I saw it in real personal terms. I've lost a
couple of friends in accidents, but to see
it as an unremitting daily toll put a whole new
perspective on it.
I don't how I would react if on a daily
basis friends of mine, better pilots and
people were lost in a bitter cycle.
As for bombers and their fate.
Aircrew flying medium and light
bombers like the Blenheim and the
Beaufort who suffered enormous
losses on daylight raids and shipping
sorties must have been of very
strong stuff indeed to carry on
as they did. Stories of whole
squadrons wiped out in a couple
of weeks were common.
I find it difficult to imagine
what it would be like.