Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation - Channel 5 UK, Tues 7th July, 9pm

[TEEEJ]

Channel 5 Tuesday 9:00 pm, 7 July 2020
Season 1 | Episode 1 | Length 1 hour
Dan Snow and Kate Humble relive three days which changed the course of history. The 15th August 1940, the day when the Battle of Britain started in earnest.

[FantomZorbin]

Oh for the days of Raymond Baxter.

[DownWest]

Oh for the days of Raymond Baxter.
Quite..
Most of it good, but the presenters......

[GeeRam]

I thought it was pretty dire really.........very disjointed presentation, and terrible presenters, or rather terrible script and production. Quite why they thought Kate Humble would be a good choice for this is anyone's guess!!
Apart from the Duxford warbird footage including the in-cockpit shots of John R flying the Blenheim etc., I really didn't think there was much to write home about.

[DHfan]

I have no strong feelings either way about Kate Humble, she's a professional rentagob presenter, but I guess her dad being a test pilot for Hawker meant she was top of the list.

Oops, sorry, grandfather.

[Allan Lupton]

Quite a long time ago Kate Humble did a programme on Bill H, her grandfather, which was fine. What I saw of the programme this week was pretty dire, I agree, but I keep having to remember that we aviation people are not the target audience of those programmes, so we shouldn't expect too much.

[Kiltrash]

Only seen 30 mins so far, but as they featured 3 people who actually took part, and not just the well known names was good to watch. 99.99 % of all the people are only known to their direct families and was good to see the 'small; cog featured.

[beamer]

I agree that it makes a change to hear about some lesser known names. The presenters are simply ghastly, maybe Jeremy Clarkson could have made a better fist of it !

[Tony Mabelis]

What grips me is the presenters constantly wittering on about the 'Nazi' aircraft......what is wrong with referring to the enemy as the Luftwaffe!

[fauteuil volant]

I thought that Gordon Ramsay was lined up to present this programme .....

[ericferret]

What grips me is the presenters constantly wittering on about the 'Nazi' aircraft......what is wrong with referring to the enemy as the Luftwaffe!

I thought we were at war with Germany not a political party!!
I think this use of Nazi has become prevalent on T.V.
After all we wouldn't want to offend the nice Germans. It was those nasty Nazi's that were the problem.

[Terry McCassey]

Any HD TV clips featuring those gorgeous Mk1a Spitfires from Duxford do, and probably always will, give me goosebumps. But, oh deary deary me who in their right mind chose those presenters ?

[Allan Lupton]

What grips me is the presenters constantly wittering on about the 'Nazi' aircraft......what is wrong with referring to the enemy as the Luftwaffe!
Yes I can't stand that either. We were at war with Germany because of what its government had done and was doing. That it was a National Socialist (Nazi) government did not mean that all Germans were members of that party, any more than not all the UK citizens of today are members of the Conservative party.

[VictorGolf]

I often wonder what kind of a fist the armchair critics on here would make of a programme with this remit. I could hazard a guess and it isn't favourable.

[Herod]

Don't forget, most of us on here know more about it than Joe Public. But the programme wasn't made for us. If it brings an appreciation of the history and sacrifice before a new, and younger, audience, the programme has done its job.

[teeteringhead]

Yes I can't stand that either. We were at war with Germany because of what its government had done and was doing. Indeed. One recalls a programme (probably BBC) which included Chamberlain's famous "declaration of war" broadcast.

The recording was cut short, so it read: "I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war." The final two words: "with Germany." were cut!!

[CAEBr]

Dan Snow, the snowflake historian - Having previously admitted to telling his daughter that women fought in Spitfires during the war because he couldn't face telling her that they weren't able to fly with the RAF, if she watches the programme she'll be asking him why they weren't featured....... :E Idiot. Maybe his daughter could have done a better job, couldn't have been much worse.

[DHfan]

I have no particular beef with Dan Snow - although I didn't know about what he did or didn't tell his daughter - but it always bugs me when he's described as a "Historian".
He's not, he's got a History degree from Oxford, which is a far higher qualification than I've got, but it doesn't make him a historian.

[ericferret]

Dan Snow, the snowflake historian - Having previously admitted to telling his daughter that women fought in Spitfires during the war because he couldn't face telling her that they weren't able to fly with the RAF, if she watches the programme she'll be asking him why they weren't featured....... :E Idiot. Maybe his daughter could have done a better job, couldn't have been much worse.
I wonder why he didn't tell her about the fantastic contribution made by the A.T.A who flew anything and everything that had wings.
Probably never heard of them!!!

[beamer]

Episode three and luvvie Dan is at it again.....we were at war with GERMANY !

[TYTOENG232]

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! What a letdown on this last episode. Some great snippets in the last half hour especially re: the polish pilots and the VC recipient.But the presenters reminded me of my earlier years watching Blue Peter! Great vintage aerial shots though, shooting down the "Nazis".I noticed towards the end that they described them as "Germans" or the "Luftwaffe"
As an aside I remember being in Biggin in around 81 or 82 and having a long conversation with "Jacko" Jackson and I think his son was "JImbo" in the wonderful King Air flying club bar. If I remember both at that time were flying with the BBMF. Jacko flying the Lanc and Jimbo flying the Hurricane. If I am wrong someone here will correct me I am sure. Happy days!

[air pig]

They would have been far better with James Holland and Stephen Bungay. I agree with the comments here about the description of Nazi instead of German, irriitated me greatly from the start.

Humble and Snow were both dire in this. The one done by the McGregor brothers a few years ago was far better.

[FlightlessParrot]

I wonder why he didn't tell her about the fantastic contribution made by the A.T.A who flew anything and everything that had wings.
Probably never heard of them!!!
Quite so. Apart from the unexpectedly fine Spreading My Wings by Diana Barnato Walker, I like the fictional moment in Len Deighton's Bomber, in which an A.T.A. pilot delivers a new Lancaster to a base, single handed. When she gets home, her mother asks her if her work isn't rather dangerous. "Only after I've landed," she says. But Walker's book would be much better to recommend to a modern girl than telling her fables: it is a fascinating account of how a remarkable woman (also remarkably rich and remarkably well-connected) coped with limiting stereotypes, and flew Spitfires.

[Herod]

From today's Times. "Almost half of Britons cannot identify the Battle of Britain with more than two thirds of 18-24 year-olds confusing the Second World War aerial campaign with other historic episodes such as part of the English Civil War. A survey of 2,135 adults by the RAF Benevolent fund found 44 percent were unaware of the RAF's successful defence.". For all its faults, if this programme helps raise awareness, it will have helped.

[beamer]

TBH, the programme was not designed for pilots or enthusiasts. It was rather like a glossy coffee table book full of pretty pictures but little actual content.

In some respects we in this country are our own worst enemies. We are subjugated by political correctness and lectured to constantly by revisionist commentators and 'historians'. In WW2 we apparently fought the Nazi party rather than a Germany led Axis. The Americans won Overlord on their own, Bomber Command never hit anything apart from obliterating the innocent city of Dresden. The Holocaust was a figment of our imagination and so it goes on.

I live about five miles from the battlefield at Naseby. A more pivotal battle in English history on English soil you would be hard to find other than the Norman Invasion. Go there today and there is precious little to see and if you make a comparison to Gettysberg the contrast is astonishing.

I for one have become rather fed up being told that I should be embarrassed by our history.

[DaveUnwin]

Yes, the 'Nazi bombers' irked me too, particularly as he never once referred to "the UK coalition fighters'.

[POBJOY]

Don't forget, most of us on here know more about it than Joe Public. But the programme wasn't made for us. If it brings an appreciation of the history and sacrifice before a new, and younger, audience, the programme has done its job.

Well at least the 'Warbird Brigade' got some work out of it. Not sure what audience this was for as you got all sorts of items like a Hurricane attacking a Blenheim which may have confused those that had little knowledge beforehand. No doubt DS has his fan club but I do not find the style in keeping with the subject. Plenty of scope to do a 'then and now' of certain locations that were involved, and everything looked so clean and tidy (especially the aircraft).A re-enactment of visits to the White Hart followed by the night club would have been quite appropriate if they wanted to go for reality. Of course these programs are largely in the hands of researchers who just use computers, but at least we did not get a squadron of Miles Masters going off, and they used pretty accurate Lloyd Loom chairs this time. Not a hit with me as Kenley missed out.

'REPEAT PLEASE REPEAT PLEASE' Always like that bit in 'The Film' whether it actually happened or not it captured the spirit of the Poles who just wanted to kill Germans.


addA

[fauteuil volant]

I didn't watch this television programme. I gave up on programmes such as that many years ago. When I want my history, I go to books. These allow me to choose something of an academic nature, leaving behind the glossy 'coffee table' volumes that have more weight than substance, whereas on television generally one has only the flim flam that is doled out. But out of interest, did the presenters call the aeroplanes 'planes'?

[Herod]

"It's an aeroplane, Mr. Bader"

[FantomZorbin]

"Blessed is he that expect-eth nothing for he shall not be disappointed" … it should be the BBC's new motto.

[Brian 48nav]

I always have a quiet chuckle when some of you get your knickers in a twist about folk saying 'planes'. Do you grumpy gits say car or motor-car, bus or omnibus etc ,no , I thought not.

As for the idea of having Clarkson to present the programmes, Heaven forbid! Not sure about the McGregor brothers either - Ewen is okay but his brother's voice is awful. I bet ATC were always asking him to say again!

[GeeRam]

"Blessed is he that expect-eth nothing for he shall not be disappointed" … it should be the BBC's new motto.

It was on Channel 5 not the BBC...?

[GeeRam]

As for the idea of having Clarkson to present the programmes, Heaven forbid!

Jezza wouldn't have been my choice either, but James May would have been a very good choice. Very good presenter, and has a keen interest in the BofB as a subject as well.

[FlightlessParrot]

As for the idea of having Clarkson to present the programmes, Heaven forbid!

Here's one from the "I'm so old..." series (starting with "I'm so old I can remember when Qantas was a good airline"):

I'm so old I can remember when Clarkson was funny.

That is all.

[DHfan]

I quite like Clarkson anyway but also feel he could well have been a good choice.
I suspect the people who are discounting him out of hand may have not seen any documentaries he's presented.

I recall Brunel, in the 100 Greatest Britons series, one about the Arctic convoys and another about the raid on St. Nazaire.
They were all excellent.

I'm quite impressed with James Holland, who somebody mentioned earlier, but a presenter that says "wiv" really grates!

[Allan Lupton]

I quite like Clarkson anyway but also feel he could well have been a good choice.
I suspect the people who are discounting him out of hand may have not seen any documentaries he's presented.

Yes, forget the appalling "Top Gear" (if one ever could) and you'll find that he is making a much better job of "Who wants to be a millionaire" than Tarrant ever did.

[fauteuil volant]

I always have a quiet chuckle when some of you get your knickers in a twist about folk saying 'planes'. Do you grumpy gits say car or motor-car, bus or omnibus etc ,no , I thought not.

Looks like someone can't recognise irony when it's smiling in his face! :=

[DHfan]

These days they usually call them 'airplanes' which causes a great deal of snarling and gnashing of teeth here.

[goofer3]

From the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre;
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/856x106/dan_snow_d2d1cd0ecd45b8477da29734044d188dba0e5643.jpg

[tdracer]

As for the idea of having Clarkson to present the programmes, Heaven forbid!
Have you watched any of Clarkson's "War Stories"? I don't care what you think of his "Top Gear" or "Grand Tour", he is quite simply excellent as the presenter in War Stories.
Unfortunately, since he and BBC parted ways in rather unpleasant fashion, I doubt he'll have such an opportunity in the future unless Amazon decides to let him do what he's apparently best at.

[olster]

Those that have commented on the repeated references to ‘nazi invaders’ have my total agreement. Every time the we were at war with the nazis came up I bellowed embarrassingly ‘they were Germans!’ It is as though we were at war with a political party and not Germany. The deduction as already mentioned is that we do not want to embarrass German sensibilities. Political correctness, grrr....

[DHfan]

In this case, I'm not sure whether it's political correctness or just plain dumb and not knowing what they're talking about...

Whether that's the presenters, researchers, script writers or all three, who knows?

[GeeRam]

In this case, I'm not sure whether it's political correctness or just plain dumb and not knowing what they're talking about...

Whether that's the presenters, researchers, script writers or all three, who knows?

The presenters only read whatever script is put in front of them, so it will be a mix of the researchers and script writers (who may or may not have a political agenda, or just be ignorant or both)

[Evanelpus]

My old employer used Kate for a couple of events that I was involved in. She soon became Kate ‘not so’ Humble by the team who had the misfortune to work with her.

[FantomZorbin]

GeeRam. OOps my error, thanks for that; but the comment re. BBC still stands IMHO.

[Allan Lupton]

Other TV irritations (for me at least) include the use of the present tense when referring to historic events and referring to people using names or titles that they used later than the events being described.
An example of the latter, in a programme last night when telling about events in the early 1930s the future king Edward VIII was referred to as "Edward" and sometimes as "The Duke of Windsor". He was the Prince of Wales then and that title should have been used. He was only "Edward" when he was king and only became the Duke after abdicating.
Or should I say that he is only Edward when he is king and becomes Duke when he abdicates.:*

[Krystal n chips]

Have you watched any of Clarkson's "War Stories"? I don't care what you think of his "Top Gear" or "Grand Tour", he is quite simply excellent as the presenter in War Stories.
Unfortunately, since he and BBC parted ways in rather unpleasant fashion, I doubt he'll have such an opportunity in the future unless Amazon decides to let him do what he's apparently best at.

I would concur with that . Watched his programmes about Dieppe and PQ17 and to be fair he does concentrate on the topic, rather than him/herself , with his own inimitable style of commentary. Guy Martin is another whose unique and unpretentious style makes for entertaining viewing.

I didn't watch the programme because, whilst the topic(s) may well be of interest, frankly, any programme that has the initial D S as the presenter invariably means said presenter ensures the content is focussed on himself.

[XV490]

From the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre;
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/856x106/dan_snow_d2d1cd0ecd45b8477da29734044d188dba0e5643.jpg

"Oh God's truth," as actor Barry Foster bemoaned in the 1969 Battle of Britain film.

Will KH be involved too, I wonder?

[Terry McCassey]

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/400x363/scan0005_b70508f0622ff203f08c28811ea96f6e959e701d.jpg

"Don't you yell at me Mr Warwick ! "
Name them all in 5 seconds and win a banana, sorry for the thread creep, bring back the oldies, they're the best. Sorry for the thread drift, needed to let off a bit of steam, aaaaagh, that's better, sorry

[Mr Mac]

I have a DVD of the BOB, and with it came another DVD of a documentary done by Michael Cain in 1969 at the time of the release of the film, where he interviewed people in I think Trafalgar Square, about what they knew about the BOB, (and they were English people he spoke to) and surprisingly a number were unaware of it even then. So it is possible that at 80 years more people know less about it, apart from on specialist forums like this.
I am not sure about celebrating so much over quite old military actions as how far do you go back. Do we revisit Waterloo, Naesby, Stamford Bridge, the list is quite long, to celebrate and remember at 100, 200,300 years, it just seems that is done to remember passed glories, rather than present challenges.
Cheers
Mr Mac

[treadigraph]

As I recall, the people interviewed in Michael Caine's film who couldn't remember the Battle of Britain were Americans outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square. One man recalled it very well and greatly appreciated what the UK was up against.

The Battle of Britain is less than a lifetime ago, several of those who fought it still survive and those events still live in - and perhaps effect - the memories of probably several million people and their children like me. We don't celebrate it, we commemorate it. In a hundred years it probably will just be paragraph or two in a dusty history book.

[Mr Mac]

Treadigraph
I will have to find the documentary and have a watch, but you maybe right, it was a while ago when I watched it. I would say that pilots who flew in BOB on either side would be very few by now, if not none existent, purely due to their age which would be circa 99. Maybe ground crews and support personnel, and indeed the civilians / Children who may have witnessed it first hand are still around, but again not in the flush of youth. As for the commemoration / celebration that maybe down to personnel perception on my behalf. You maybe correct with your assertion re the 100 year but I would not be too sure given the current gamut of remembrances we seem to be having which seem to outweigh any I remember growing up, which seems odd , maybe as though there is an agenda ?
Kind regards
Mr Mac

[hiflymk3]

Mr Mac, you obviously don't remember the old television programme, All Our Yesterdays. The presenter, whose face I remember but not the name would introduce the programme with. "Twenty five years ago..." Old WW2 footage was then shown of what happened that week 25 years before.

[DHfan]

IIRC, following the death of one BofB pilot a few weeks ago, there's now one just Allied pilot still alive.

[stevef]

Mr Mac, you obviously don't remember the old television programme, All Our Yesterdays. The presenter, whose face I remember but not the name would introduce the programme with. "Twenty five years ago..." Old WW2 footage was then shown of what happened that week 25 years before.

Coincidence - I was only thinking about All Our Yesterdays on Saturday! When I watched it the presenter was Brian Inglis.

[XV490]

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/400x363/scan0005_b70508f0622ff203f08c28811ea96f6e959e701d.jpg

"Don't you yell at me Mr Warwick ! "
Name them all in 5 seconds and win a banana, sorry for the thread creep, bring back the oldies, they're the best. Sorry for the thread drift, needed to let off a bit of steam, aaaaagh, that's better, sorry

​​​​​​Is that Peter Townsend second right (with RST)?

[Mr Mac]

highflymk3
Sadly I am old enough to remember "All our Yesterdays", though did not remember that it looked back at precise dates as you describe. I was just starting at Boarding School when it was on in the 60,s so I was still quite young.
Kind regards
Mr Mac

[ATNotts]

Mr Mac, you obviously don't remember the old television programme, All Our Yesterdays. The presenter, whose face I remember but not the name would introduce the programme with. "Twenty five years ago..." Old WW2 footage was then shown of what happened that week 25 years before.

The presenter was Brian Inglis, balding chap if I recall correctly. I remember watching "All Our Yesterdays" as a kid, and often think now that 25 years ago today would be 1995, which feels very recent, but back in the day 25 years ago was ancient history. The joys of advancing years!

I wonder if somewhere in the archives of ITV there are any episodes still knocking around, they could make interesting viewing.

[pr00ne]

Just watched all three episodes, and all I can say is what a silly lot of reactionary old pedantic nit picking dinosaurs you are!

I am 71 and am well aware of the events of the Battle of Britain, I joined the Royal Air Force about a quarter of a century after the actual events of the BoB.

I thought this was a well made and very good series. The two presenters did not annoy me, the odd use of the phrase "the Nazi's" did not annoy me as there were far more references to "the Luftwaffe' "the Germans" and "the enemy" than "the Nazi's." Kate Humble in the two seat Spitfire and the 54 Sqn episode out of Hornchurch was really good, as was the use of the Bolingbroke as a bomber. The similar all glass cockpit was a useful feature used by the pilot to demonstrate what would have happened if an 8 gun Hurricane or Spitfire had engaged a He 111 head on.

The use of warbirds and pilots like Cliff Spink and historians like Stephen Bungay enhanced the whole series.

The concentration on three lesser known episodes and relatives of lesser known individuals made it of interest to me, and I would imagine fascinating to those who do not have an encyclopedic knowledge of the events as some on here seem to have.

I ignored this thread before now because I was pretty sure what the reaction from most would have been, but when two much younger and non aeroplane or warfare history folk mentioned it to me and said that they had really enjoyed the series I thought that I would give it a watch.

So I read this thread through before hand, then watched it.

My opinion now?

Thoroughly enjoyed the series, enjoyed the style of both presenters, and as to the reaction?

A lot of you on here would appear to be angry and bitter and twisted old reactionary buffoons.

[Haraka]

ATNotts,
The original presenter of "All Our Yesterdays" was the chain smoking ex-foreign corresponent James Cameron and the news was initially taken from 1936 IIRC . It was an excellent production with Brian Inglis being a worthwhile successor.
I was commisioned on 15th Sep 69 and a group of us were invited along to the BoB film premiere in Nottingham, One keen chap did ask a senior flying instructor if he would like to come along with us to see the film since there were some extra tickets: He smiled and replied
" I'll give the Film a miss if you don't mind,
Being in the Play was quite enough for me."

[GeeRam]

​​​​​​Is that Peter Townsend second right (with RST)?

Yes, with Ginger Lacey behind SY.

[Shackeng]

I’m with the majority, the expensively produced programme was spoilt by the gung-ho manner in which it was presented.

[Terry McCassey]

As a youngster I went to school in North Yorkshire and my best mate knew Ginger Lacey who had by then retired to Flamborough Head. Sadly never met the man

[brakedwell]

As a youngster I went to school in North Yorkshire and my best mate knew Ginger Lacey who had by then retired to Flamborough Head. Sadly never met the man

I met Ginger Lacey in 1981/2 when he flew to Spain or somewhere on holiday. He spent most of the flight on the Flight Deck of our Air Europe B737 and seemed to be a very nice chap. He was chief flying instructor at a Club up North somewhere.

[FantomZorbin]

pr00ne wrote:
A lot of you on here would appear to be angry and bitter and twisted old reactionary buffoons.

Takes one to know one … just saying.

[DownWest]

Me too. My father was in the BoB and would have cringed at that presentation. But he was just doing what was needed and moved on afterwards. Still had the bad dreams later.

[ericferret]

Just watched all three episodes, and all I can say is what a silly lot of reactionary old pedantic nit picking dinosaurs you are!

I am 71 and am well aware of the events of the Battle of Britain, I joined the Royal Air Force about a quarter of a century after the actual events of the BoB.

I thought this was a well made and very good series. The two presenters did not annoy me, the odd use of the phrase "the Nazi's" did not annoy me as there were far more references to "the Luftwaffe' "the Germans" and "the enemy" than "the Nazi's." Kate Humble in the two seat Spitfire and the 54 Sqn episode out of Hornchurch was really good, as was the use of the Bolingbroke as a bomber. The similar all glass cockpit was a useful feature used by the pilot to demonstrate what would have happened if an 8 gun Hurricane or Spitfire had engaged a He 111 head on.

The use of warbirds and pilots like Cliff Spink and historians like Stephen Bungay enhanced the whole series.

The concentration on three lesser known episodes and relatives of lesser known individuals made it of interest to me, and I would imagine fascinating to those who do not have an encyclopedic knowledge of the events as some on here seem to have.

I ignored this thread before now because I was pretty sure what the reaction from most would have been, but when two much younger and non aeroplane or warfare history folk mentioned it to me and said that they had really enjoyed the series I thought that I would give it a watch.

So I read this thread through before hand, then watched it.

My opinion now?

Thoroughly enjoyed the series, enjoyed the style of both presenters, and as to the reaction?

A lot of you on here would appear to be angry and bitter and twisted old reactionary buffoons.


Your Peter Snow and I claim my £50.

[jolihokistix]

I remember meeting and chatting with Adolf Galland at the reception after the premiere of the BofB film. Robert Stanford Tuck was there with him. A huge privilege, not only because I had so much enjoyed Fly for your Life.

[GeeRam]

I remember meeting and chatting with Adolf Galland at the reception after the premiere of the BofB film. Robert Stanford Tuck was there with him. A huge privilege, not only because I had so much enjoyed Fly for your Life.

Yes, I read Fly for your Life in the early 70's when still at junior school, as a result of seeing him and Bader and a few others at one of the Biggin Hill BofB At Home days around 73/74. My Dad was working at the display those years, and tried to pull a few strings to get me to meet him, but it didn't happen.
Tuck and Galland were already close friends by the time of the BofB movie filming, as Tuck was Godfather to Galland's son born a few years earlier IIRC. I remember seeing a great photo of the two of them taken a few years before Tuck passed away, I think taken in Germany, on one of his visits to Galland, both in tweeds and deerstalkers etc with broken 12g over there arms out blagging birds, and both in deep conversation.

[VintageEngineer]

I found it pretty good for a modern program. We may be interested, but the vast majority of people just don’t care about the ‘Battle of Britain’, a bland title that leaves youngsters non the wiser; my youngest son’s history GCSE had it only as a background to a small part of the many hours spent on the role and experience of women in WW2. Any interesting program, no matter how flawed to aviation and history buffs, can only be helpful.

FWIW I dislike the emphasis on the glamorous fighter pilots and associated myths. Almost twice as many Coastal and Bomber Command aircrew died on invasion targets, including Luftwaffe airfields, as Fighter Command aircrew (note I use ‘aircrew’ not ‘pilots’ as some were air gunners, including the Blenheim nighfighter gunner buried some 200 yds from where I now sit). ‘The Few’ is almost universally applied to Fighter Command aircrew when Churchill was explicitly referring to all aircrew in the 3 commands, which is both unfair and ironic given that far fewer of the other 2 commands’ aircrew survived the war.

The programs also avoided revisionist history even where that may be justified. Individuals that become leaders and get noticed, such as Bader, often get there by having character traits that would give the Woke brigade fits. Better to leave these things unsaid.

I would like to see 2 follow-up programs, one on the contribution of the other 2 commands and one on what would have happened if the Luftwaffe achieved air superiority and Hitler had launched an invasion. I’m not holding my breath.

I look forward to their intended program on the dams raid to see if they put it in a wider context or just concentrate on the glamorous bits.