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[Lizzie_Zoom]

Today we remember the recognised climax of the Battle of Britain.

70 Years ago, on Sunday the 15th of September 1940,  it was a highly significant day when the RAF had all their fighter squadrons, including all reserves, in the air to meet what is considered to be the last mass determined attack by the Luftwaffe to destroy the RAF resistance and launch a German land and sea invasion. The Battle was not over, for it would last until the end of October 1940 but this day generally represents the true climax of the conflict.

On that Sunday the battle statistics are now known to be:

Sunday, 15th September, 1940**

RAF                                                            
Aircrew Losses    Aircraft Lost                
16                               31                            

Luftwaffe
93                                61

These figures do not allow for those German aircraft who would have limped back across the Channel with burnt out engines, smashed under-carriages, dead crew, that either finally went into the drink, or crash landed.  Others may have landed on their wheels, with dead crew inside, and with their airframes heavily damaged, never to fly again.  Therefore the German overall losses would be greater than the figures shown for over the UK.

This was not the worst day for the Luftwaffe, as on the 15th August 1940 the statistics** were:
RAF
Aircrew Losses    Aircraft Lost
11                           35

Luftwaffe
 128                        76

However, the trend had been the same basically throughout the battle. Although the RAF had suffered some terrible days of losses, for the Luftwaffe crews it just seemed, and was,  far worse.  Their High Command repeatedly told them the RAF were within 4/5 days of collapse, that certain squadrons had been totally annihilated, yet those very squadrons were still attacking them, and in some numbers.  The British fighters were always there to intercept them and cause them heavy losses.

After that the Luftwaffe concentrated their attacks at night on London, and most major cities of Britain which had already commenced on the 7th September, and lasted until May 1941.

Thankfully for Great Britain, and the World, from 22nd June 1941 Hitler's interests lay elsewhere - Operation BARBARROSA - to conquer Russia, and from that moment the Nazi dream of world domination was doomed.  Great Britain had survived the greatest of threats, and early defeats, to go on and gain victory thanks to the bravest of young men who gave their lives for our today. 

537 RAF airmen died, but 2,662 Luftwaffe airmen were killed**.   This was from 1,023 RAF aircraft lost, compared to 1,887 German planes lost.   In these figures you will see why the morale of the Luftwaffe crews in their squadrons was shattered, and they lost the Battle based on more than physical losses alone.

But on this day we should also remember the young men of the Luftwaffe who were lost, along with all those of the RAF who had been obeying orders and given their lives for a cause most believed in.

As my London East End Gran, who had suffered during the Blitz, often stated when seeing either a British or German plane going down "That is some mothers son"

Let us remember they gave their today for our tomorrow.



**
Ramsey, W.G. (Editor) The Battle Of Britain Then And Now 8th Edition Page 707 After The Battle Publications (2006)

[The Red Baron]

  respect.

[PhilRich]

Well said Lizzie! 'Per Ardua ad Astra'

[cem_devecioglu]

when the hard times come, some people really sacrifice themselves..so honorable..

[Nickbat]

Lest we forget.

Thanks for reminding us all, Lizzie.

[Unicornrider]

Far too often i have something negative too say...its just my dark humour/view of the world.

But i say this with an honest and open heart...my thanks goes out too everyone of them brave souls who fought and died for all of our freedom

There bravery was second too none.

As a side note my Grandmother was strafed by a German (least we hope it was  ) fighter plane...whilst walking down The street in Harlow (approx 20 miles from London)...sickening thing is she was pushing my father in his push chair.

[Dishevelled Den]

But on this day we should also remember the young men of the Luftwaffe who were lost, along with all those of the RAF who had been obeying orders and given their lives for a cause most believed in.

Very important words Lizzie. 8-)

[Tony H]

Far too often i have something negative too say...its just my dark humour/view of the world.

But i say this with an honest and open heart...my thanks goes out too everyone of them brave souls who fought and died for all of our freedom

There bravery was second too none.

As a side note my Grandmother was strafed by a German (least we hope it was  ) fighter plane...whilst walking down The street in Harlow (approx 20 miles from London)...sickening thing is she was pushing my father in his push chair.

I've heard of a quite a few cases where german fighter pl anes deliberately targeted civilians in that manner

[Lizzie_Zoom]

But on this day we should also remember the young men of the Luftwaffe who were lost, along with all those of the RAF who had been obeying orders and given their lives for a cause most believed in.

Very important words Lizzie. 8-)

Thank you Zulu. 

Although my father lost his father, my grandfather, to a Luftwaffe bomb on 12th September 1940, and my grandfather,on my mothers side, had his business bombed out in early 1941, the family has never held any grudge towards any German alive today.  It is history now, and it was down to an evil regime under which innocent Germans suffered as much as the British. 

But it was the extremely brave RAF fighter boys that crucially first turned the tide and made it possible for Europe, including the Germans, to eventually live in peace within democracies from 1945.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Today, 16th September 1940

All very quiet.  Very limited enemy activity.

RAF lose 1 plane, and no aircrew.

Luftwaffe lose 10 planes and 14 aircrew.


The only significant Battle day to come was the 27th September, 1940:

RAF lose 28 aircraft, 20 aircrew.

Luftwaffe lose 57 aircraft, 81 aircrew

Throughout October 1940 the daily aircrew losses for the RAF were in single figures, but double figure aircrew losses continued for the Luftwaffe.

The Battle Of Britain had been won

But of course the nightime bombing of cities by the Luftwaffe continued. 

RAF Bomber Command escalated their bombing campaign against German targets, with 944,044 tonnes of bombs being dropped by them up to May 1945.

The USAAF dropped another 621,877 tonnes of bombs on German targets up to May 1945.

All statistics Reference:

Keegan, J. The Oxford Companion To World War II Page 837 Oxford University Press (2005)