83: Battle Of Britain Day

Today (September 15^th) is Battle of Britain Day.

It remembers how on September 15, 1940 the largest German Air Attack occurred over Great Britain during World War 2.

The Germans launched the Battle of Britain July 10-October 31, 1940 to try and weaken British Defenses before a possible German Invasion of the mainland of the UK could take place (the Germans already occupied the British Channel Islands in June 1940.)

On September 15, 1940  1,500 German planes bombed London with 630 British and Allied Aircraft defending against them.

The British won the day thanks to the Airmen in the air and the vast Air Defense System known as the Dowding System on the ground – with thousands of Men and Women.

The Germans moved away from the Battle of Britain and trying to invade the UK to the Blitz and just trying to kill as many British Men, Women and Children they could.

During the Battle of Britain 1,542 British, Free Poles, Free French, New Zealanders, Canadians, Free Czechoslovaks, Free Belgians, Australians, South Africans, and Americans were killed and another 422 were wounded.

During the Battle of Britain 23,002 British Men, Women and Children were killed and another 32,138 were wounded.  

The Blitz lasted from September 7, 1940-May 11, 1941.

During the Blitz 43,000 British Men, Women and Children were killed and another 139,000 were injured.

Note: America was Neutral from September 1, 1939-December 7, 1941 so didn’t actively participate in the Battle of Britain or the Blitz (only American Volunteers did.)

The 1969 British Film “Battle of Britain” with Michael Caine, Laurence Oliver, Christopher Plummer Susannah York, Trevor Howard and more depicts the events of the Battle of Britain.