The Battle of Britain

[EagleDay]

Time to remember "The Few" tomorrow.
Consisting of 2,945 aircrew, the RAF was joined by volunteers from 13 different nations, some of whom had battle experience against the Luftwaffe in their own air forces. This international force became known as 'The Few'.

 

[Mexboroseasider]

RIP those who didn’t make it and those who have died since.

Are there any left I wonder?

 

[Trammo]

“ Never before, in the field of human conflict, has so much been owed by so many to so few.”Winston Churchill.

 

[EagleDay]

RIP those who didn’t make it and those who have died since.

Are there any left I wonder?

I believe John Hemingway (101 years old) is now the last surviving pilot. Piloted Hurricanes.
Wg Cmdr Paul Farnes, the last surviving 'ace' who fought in the Battle of Britain died, aged 101 in January. He also flew Hurricanes over Dunkirk.

 

[bfcpete]

The last Battle of Britain pilot died in January of this year, aged 101. And yes, they must never be forgotten.

Also, we must never forget those aircrews lost in Bomber Command and Coastal Command which were much greater. Over 55,000 (44%) of the bomber command crews were killed and a further 18,500 (15%) were wounded or ended up POWs. It was a scandel that they didn't get a memorial until 2012.
A further 5,800 aircrew were killed in coastal command aircraft. My Mum's cousin was one of those. He was in an aircrew of 3 in a Blenheim bomber which was lost in June 1941 whilst attacking enemy ports and shipping on the Normandy coast. The pilot's bodly was washed up days later and buried by the Germans. The body of my Mum's cousin (who was just 24) and the other crew member were never recovered.

God bless them all

 

[EagleDay]

The last Battle of Britain pilot died in January of this year, aged 101. And yes, they must never be forgotten.

Also, we must never forget those aircrews lost in Bomber Command and Coastal Command which were much greater. Over 55,000 (44%) of the bomber command crews were killed and a further 18,500 (15%) were wounded or ended up POWs. It was a scandel that they didn't get a memorial until 2012.
A further 5,800 aircrew were killed in coastal command aircraft. My Mum's cousin was one of those. He was in an aircrew of 3 in a Blenheim bomber which was lost in June 1941 whilst attacking enemy ports and shipping on the Normandy coast. The pilot's bodly was washed up days later and buried by the Germans. The body of my Mum's cousin (who was just 24) and the other crew member were never recovered.

God bless them all

" It was a scandel that they didn't get a memorial until 2012." PC was around even back then, the authorities seemed to be ashamed of Bomber Command. People seem to forget about all the other ancillary services that supported "The Few", they wouldn't have been able to do without them.

 

[1966_and_all_that]

It was a different world. I'd like to think our generation of young people would do the same if the balloon went up. Frighteningly, there wouldn't be time for them to prove it.