Ascension : The Battle Of Britain
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 14.09.2006 (Article Archived on 28.09.2006)
This Sunday a Service of Remembrance will be held in St Mary’s Church to commemorate Battle of Britain day, which officially falls on 15th September.
This Sunday a Service of Remembrance will be held in St Mary’s Church to commemorate Battle of Britain day, which officially falls on 15th September. There are few still alive who can remember the Second World War, less who can remember the Battle of Britain and only a handful of men who can claim to be among ‘the few’. Most of us will know of the Battle of Britain and many historians have written in depth on the subject. This article does not seek to replace their wisdom or analysis but serves as a brief history of events.
After the fall of France in 1940, Hitler turned his attention to Germany’s sole remaining enemy: Great Britain. His plans to invade Britain depended on crippling The Royal Air Force. In July the Luftwaffe, began its attempt to bomb Britain into submission - the resulting conflict became known as the Battle of Britain.
Winston Churchill recognised the significance of the fall of France. During the Second World War his constant radio talks and messages to the people not only encouraged thousands, but gave inspiration and hope to every man, woman and Serviceman. This extract from his finest hour speech served to rally the nation in preparation for the battle ahead.
The Battle of France is over. The Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war… Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth lasts for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour'.
Winston Churchill, speaking in the House of Common (11 June 1940)
The official date that is given as being the start of the Battle of Britain was 10th July 1940, which is claimed by many historians and it continued until 31st October 1940. The real air war started on 12 August (when the Luftwaffe attacked the RAF). It is also between these two dates that all aircrew that were serving under the operational control of RAF Fighter Command were entitled to wear the Battle of Britain Star and the 'Rosette and clasp' on their medal ribbons indicating that they flew at least one operational sortie between these two dates.
Much of the Battle of Britain was fought in the skies over Southern England. In June and July German bombers began attacking convoys off the south coast and making raids on the ports of Dover and Plymouth. The RAF’s 700 or so Spitfire and Hurricane fighters were outnumbered at the start, but Britain had several advantages. Its radar though undeveloped to the extent of today’s, was then the most advanced early warning system in the world, the Spitfire was a very effective fighter plane and British industry had the ability to manufacture more planes at an astonishing rate.
In August the terrifying aerial battles intensified - the Luftwaffe began launching attacks of more than 1,000 aircraft in one day. They focused on Britain’s airfield and radar installations, which were vital in warning of the approach of the German aircraft. By the end of the first week in August, the RAF had lost nearly 100 fighters and the Germans more than 190 planes. A few days of bad weather in mid August gave exhausted pilots on both sides a much-needed reprieve - but soon the attacks began again.
During the last two weeks of August the RAF sustained heavy losses but the German losses were greater. Under the weight of such loss Churchill again rallied the nation and reflected on the glory of those who were fighting in the Battle of Britain when he addressed the Commons.
Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."—Winston Churchill, House of Commons, 20th August 1940
By the end of the month the Germans had lost more than 600 aircraft and the RAF about half that number. But the loss of experienced RAF pilots and the bombing damage done to the radar stations had left Britain very vulnerable. If the attacks on air installations had continued then the eventual outcome could have been very different - but Hitler soon shifted the focus of his attacks. At the beginning of September Britain launched air attacks on some of Germany’s industrial areas - and Berlin itself. The air raids on Germany are said to have angered Hitler so much that on 7th September he ordered the Luftwaffe to bomb British cities. Whatever the reason, the Luftwaffe changed tactics and shifted their attacks away from Britain’s air defence installations. Under attack instead were major population centres, especially London and its docks. It was the beginning of the blitz. On the 15th September more than 1,000 enemy aircraft carried out a day and night attack on London - it was a day of very heavy fighting and later became commemorated as Battle of Britain day.
The attacks on British cities caused widespread damage and loss of life. If German forces had continued to concentrate their attacks on British air bases they might soon have overwhelmed Fighter Command. But, as it was, German air chiefs overestimated the number of British casualties and their bombers were being shot down faster than they could be manufactured. Hitler needed summer weather for his channel invasion and as winter approached with no breakthrough, the threat of invasion receded. Hitler had failed to establish air superiority and his fleet of invasion barges assembled in French ports had also suffered heavy losses in RAF bomber attacks. In mid October he ordered his invasion fleet dispersed. The battle was over and Britain was safe. About 1,700 Luftwaffe bombers and fighters had been shot down in just a few months and Britain had lost more than 900 fighter planes. Nearly 500 British pilots and aircrew had also been killed.
When we look back and think of the 'Battle of Britain' we no doubt always think of it as the battle of the skies, the period when RAF Fighter Command and the brave pilots who flew the planes defended Britain against a hostile enemy. The whole nation basked in the reflected glory of "The Few", however, not all pilots that took part in the Battle of Britain scored victories or 'kills', their presence alone paid handsome dividends. But the 'Battle of Britain' was more than a battle fought purely in the air, it was the support of the whole of Britain's Defence Force that won victory. It was the support of the Anti-Aircraft Command, Coastal Command and Bomber Command, the Royal Observer Corps and the home based Civil Defence Force. And although we often forget me we must also include the Royal Navy for the support that they gave and the Army, who by this time had put behind them withdrawal from Dunkirk and fought under horrific conditions in the defence of Britain.
By Flt Lt Mike Kempster
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