The Battle of Britain

[Geezers of Nazareth]

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.

[David Thompson]

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?

Well nearly one year a go , to Stanley Hollis VC . A quite superb memorial it is too ;
Hundreds turn out as memorial to Middlesbrough VC war hero Stanley Hollis is unveiled - Gazette Live

[Wander00]

Flypast - MOD (RAF) probably forgot

[Union Jack]

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!

[Danny42C]

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.

[jolihokistix]

Geezers, 2 over the Abbey today.

[Wander00]

Blenheims in BoB mentioned during Blenheim display at Cranfield "air show" yesterday

[brokenlink]

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

[Tankertrashnav]

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

[roving]

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.

[seafury45]

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.

[Chugalug2]

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

[handsfree]

I've just finished reading that account by David Crook myself,
Chugalug. Makes for very interesting reading and much room
for thought.

[Crromwellman]

To former and serving RAF colleagues from an ex-soldier, I wish you all well for your day. The nation owes you and it should not forget it

[Danny42C]

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.

[langleybaston]

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

[Onceapilot]

Worth watching the Battle of Britain film if you can. Not perfect but, probably captures something of the time.
Always sad for those who suffered.

OAP

[1.3VStall]

I'll be raising a glass (or two) tomorrow to the boys - and in particular to Geoffrey Wellum; I had the good fortune to meet him once. What a gentleman!

[insty66]

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

“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”

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.

[India Four Two]

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