Jump to content
News Ticker
  • I am now accepting the following payment methods: Card Payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal
  • Latest News

    Battle of Britain Memorial


    Recommended Posts

    The Pilot is seated on a sandstone base on which the squadrons and units who fought in the battle are carved.

    The RAF recognises 2440 British and 510 overseas pilots who flew at least one authorised operational sortie with an eligible unit of the Royal Air Force or Fleet Air Arm during the period 10 July to 31 October 1940. This group includes 139 Poles, 98 New Zealanders, 86 Canadians, 84 Czechoslovakians, 29 Belgians, 21 Australians, 20 South Africans, 13 French, 10 Irish, 7 from the United States, a Jamaican, a Palestinian Jew and a Southern Rhodesian. 498 RAF pilots were killed during the battle. An Italian expeditionary force called Corpo Aereo Italiano also took part in the latter stages of battle on the German side. The Battle of Britain was the first major battle to be fought entirely in the air. It was the largest and most sustained bombing campaign yet attempted and the first real test of the strategic bombing theories that had emerged since the previous World War.

    Foreign contribution

    From the very beginning of the war, the Royal Air Force accepted foreign pilots to supplement the dwindling pool of British pilots. The RAF roll of honour for the Battle of Britain recognises[2] 510 overseas pilots as flying at least one authorised operational sortie with an eligible unit of the Royal Air Force or Fleet Air Arm between 10 July and 31 October 1940.

    Nationality/ Number

    Polish 139

    New Zealander 98

    Canadian 86

    Czechoslovakian 84

    Belgian 29

    Australian 21

    South African 20

    French 13

    Irish 10

    Unknown 8

    American 7

    Jamaican 1

    Palestinian (Jewish) 1

    Southern Rhodesian 1

    Edited by Taz
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    "The Few"

    "The gratitude of every home in our island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. "

    Edited by Taz
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Full Scale Model of a Supermarine Spitfire in the markings of 72 Sqn.

    Painted in the colours of the Jeffery Quill OBE AFC, the most famous Spitfire pilot (he was development pilot for prototype K5054). He was so keen to gain battle experience and contribute to the war effort, he enrolled in the Battle of Britain Squadron 65 (Hornchurch), shooting down a Messerchmitt Bf 109E fighter and a Heinkel He 111 bomber.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Quill

    Edited by Taz
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now
    ×
    ×
    • Create New...

    Important Information

    We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.