The Battle of Britain
Is there a BoB church service at St Clement Danes this weekend ... their web-site does not mention it. It usually ends with a flypast of some sort, and there doesn't seem to be a NOTAM for it.
Danny
Isn't it true that the town of your current residence has only recently recognised its famous son, the only VC won on D-Day?
Isn't it true that the town of your current residence has only recently recognised its famous son, the only VC won on D-Day?
Hundreds turn out as memorial to Middlesbrough VC war hero Stanley Hollis is unveiled - Gazette Live
Most people quite naturally associate the Battle of Britain with Spitfire and Hurricane pilots, but no less than nine (I believe) Blenheim squadrons took part, as well as Beaufighters, Defiants and sundry other types. All of their crews were entitled to the rare 'Battle of Britain' clasp. - TTN
Lest we forget:
The Fleet Air Arm and the Battle of Britain - History Learning Site
Jack
PS Congratulations, Grandpa!
Lest we forget:
The Fleet Air Arm and the Battle of Britain - History Learning Site
Jack
PS Congratulations, Grandpa!
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David Thompson (#42),
Thanks for answering for me. I remember now, there was an article about it in the "Now and Then" at that time (we don't take the "Gazette")
Danny.
..................
There is quite a bit on this subject in my home "turf" of "Pilot's Brevet", starting p.465, last line of #9286 of 14th September.
Thanks for answering for me. I remember now, there was an article about it in the "Now and Then" at that time (we don't take the "Gazette")
Danny.
..................
There is quite a bit on this subject in my home "turf" of "Pilot's Brevet", starting p.465, last line of #9286 of 14th September.
Geezers, 2 over the Abbey today.
TTN, think I have the e mail address of the chap accompanying the old lady. I'll drop him a line and ask.
Regds
BL
Regds
BL
Last edited by brokenlink; 18th Sep 2016 at 20:30. Reason: Lousy spelling!
Would be very interesting to find out, thanks. I don't have the medals any more but I still have some details on file, so it would be good to compare notes.
Thanks Jack
Thanks Jack
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As Friday is once again Battle of Britain Day, I hope it will not be considered hubris to share the reverse of a photo from my dad's easy war albums.
There were three groups of four MK IX Spitfires in the 208 Squadron flypast.
There were three groups of four MK IX Spitfires in the 208 Squadron flypast.
A question if I may.
What contribution did the Civilian Repair Organisation (CRO) make to success in the BoB? I can find that it returned a staggering 79,000 aircraft to service during the whole war but cannot find any details relating only to the BoB.
What contribution did the Civilian Repair Organisation (CRO) make to success in the BoB? I can find that it returned a staggering 79,000 aircraft to service during the whole war but cannot find any details relating only to the BoB.
roving, by a strange co-incidence I am reading Flt Lt David Crook's account of 208's sister squadron, 209, and one of its pilots BoB. The devastating losses of Dunkirk and the start of the BoB (the Battle of Weymouth in particular) mercifully gave way to growing success as the simple truth that height was everything was qickly learned. This account was published shortly after the BoB, and Flt Lt Crook DFC died in 1944. The loss of friends and colleagues, even ex-school friends, on the squadron was keenly felt but the resilience of youth shines throughout. This book is currently available free as a Kindle download here:-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spitfire-Pi...Spitfire+Pilot
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spitfire-Pi...Spitfire+Pilot
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There are many Posts from previous BoB days on Thread. As to the importance of the Battle, I once quoted Admiral Lord St. Vincent from two centuries ago:
"I do not say the French cannot come. I only say they cannot come by sea !"
To which the RAF had now added: "Or by air !"
The enemy may have changed - but the logic held good just the same.
I have never been able to understand why the US does not publicly celebrate June 4th as "Midway Day", for on that day in 1942, their Douglas Dauntless dive bombers destroyed three of four big Jap fleet carriers (they got the fourth later).
Revenge was sweet, for this had been the carrier group which had attacked Pearl Harbor six months earlier. It removed any threat of attack on the US mainland, and broke for good the back of Japanese naval air power in the Pacific. From then on they could only lose: it took the US three more years to get to Okinawa - then the Bomb ended the war. IMHO, it was of equal importance to them as the BoB to us, for it reversed the course of the war.
Danny.
"I do not say the French cannot come. I only say they cannot come by sea !"
To which the RAF had now added: "Or by air !"
The enemy may have changed - but the logic held good just the same.
I have never been able to understand why the US does not publicly celebrate June 4th as "Midway Day", for on that day in 1942, their Douglas Dauntless dive bombers destroyed three of four big Jap fleet carriers (they got the fourth later).
Revenge was sweet, for this had been the carrier group which had attacked Pearl Harbor six months earlier. It removed any threat of attack on the US mainland, and broke for good the back of Japanese naval air power in the Pacific. From then on they could only lose: it took the US three more years to get to Okinawa - then the Bomb ended the war. IMHO, it was of equal importance to them as the BoB to us, for it reversed the course of the war.
Danny.
Last edited by Danny42C; 14th Sep 2017 at 12:20. Reason: Formatting
Remembering ......... I was nearly five years old, my father was flying his barrage balloon "somewhere" [Coventry] and I stood in the garden in Sussex and marvelled.
I thank all of the aircrew, and all of the groundcrews and support staff, whose total commitment surely saved us.
RIP
I thank all of the aircrew, and all of the groundcrews and support staff, whose total commitment surely saved us.
RIP
I've read quite a few books on the Battle over the years and recently stumbled across this quote by US General Henry “Hap” Arnold
I like it because it's an appreciation, from outside the RAF and UK, of not just the sacrifice but also the result of the sacrifice.
They really did save it all for Europe.
“On the 8th of August 1940, the RAF Fighter Command took off to save everything, and between then and the end of September they saved it all”
They really did save it all for Europe.
Battle of Britain formation over Ottawa
Some really great Spitfire and Hurricane pictures from a sunset flight in the Ottawa area:
At the Going Down of the sun > Vintage Wings of Canada
At the Going Down of the sun > Vintage Wings of Canada