15th September 1940

[Dakaras]

The day that the RAF held the world in their hands and did not let it fall.

Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.

Winston Churchill 20th August 1940

15th September 1940

Group 11 Operations Room

" Churchill remembered Park (Air Vice Marshall K R Park) walking up and down behind the map table watching with vigilant eye every move in the game...and only occasionally intervening with some decisive order, usually to reinforce a threaterned area. Churchill now broke silence "There appear to be many aircraft coming in." As calmly , Park reassured him. "Therell be somebody there to meet them." Soon all of his squadrons were committed and Churchill heard him calling Dowling asking for 3 squadrons from 12 Group to be placed at his disposal in case of another attack. Churchill noticed Parks anixiety and asked What other reserves have we?

There are none Park replied

Russain Shock

Field Marshall Gerd von Rundstedt had no illusions. He told some Russain officers in 1945 that had the Luftwaffe won the Battle of Britain in 1940 Germany would have defeated the Soviet Union the next year. They had come to ask his view on the decisive battle of the war, thinking that he would name Stalingrad. When his old eyes cold, his face stiff and proud von Rundstedt told them "The Battle of Britain" they closed thier notebooks and went away. (Extract from The Sky Suspended The Battle of Britain May 1940 to April 1941)

So people if you get the chance at 3.40pm today 15th Setember 2004 look up to the sky and be proud of The Few who held back the largest ariel attack seen in British skies and thank them and all in Britain 1940 for the sacrifices made during the battle

S!

[Hat]

Weather: Fair with some cloud patches. Fine during the evening.
Day: Heavy attacks on London, broken up by Fighter Command. Highest German losses since 18 August [185 claimed by the RAF] force a serious rethink by the German High Command.
Night: Heavy damage to London.

Enemy action by day
The enemy delivered two major attacks on London during the day. Later smaller formations attacked both Portland and targets in the Southampton area.

Our fighters destroyed 176 enemy aircraft (124 bombers and 53 fighters) plus 41 probable and 72 damaged.

AA destroyed 7 enemy aircraft plus 4 probable.

Our casualties are 25 aircraft and 13 pilots killed or missing

Enemy patrols were plotted between 0900 and 1100 hours in the following areas:

In the Straits.
Off Harwich.
Between Lympne and Dungeness.
20 miles East of line Lowestoft to Spurn Head.
In the Estuary.
South of Shoreham and the Isle of Wight.
Attempts to intercept the above were not successful. One He 111, flying west, was intercepted and destroyed near Start Point.

__________________________________
For the fulll reports and links to other days............
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/september15.html

[Zak33]

and I thank you both for bringing that to me.

With a full heart, and a healthy life, a good family and ace friends, I shall be out there, looking up, at 3:40. If a Hurricane just happened to pass by, I might collapse from it all.

And as you guys know. Thats not bull. Thats me.

S! guys. And to The Few. My utmost repsect and thanks.

[MA_Moby]

Here are the facts and stats from that day.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/september15.html

EDIT: Ha! Me and Hat were on the same wavelength! Missed his post when I first looked

[MasterFlash]

Thanks for that guys

<S>

[Knoxville]

"Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few"

I don't think anyone could've put it better.

S!

[Zak33]

thanks for sharing it with me guys

all the mobile numbers I had got a text and they all came back so damn quick

Skii,,,,,it was me mate ...Dakky somewhere looking up just like me.....Tumble with his head in a photocopier rushed outside, and said "must be cold at 30k"..... Rias asked me to wave to her Hurricane if it passed me,....... TiG was having a good day too ... Deckard got mine just at the critical moment

S! guys. Kinda enjoyed that

[turkster]

Am currently reading The Spitfire Story by Alfred Price and it is amazing how hard up they were for fighter planes at that stage in the war.

Only around 300 Spitfires and 700 Hurricanes were available and only 80% or so of those were operational .

[Dakaras]

Am currently reading The Spitfire Story by Alfred Price and it is amazing how hard up they were for fighter planes at that stage in the war.

Only around 300 Spitfires and 700 Hurricanes were available and only 80% or so of those were operational .

Yep and then from September / October it was the pilot shortage that very nearly lost it for us. Thank God that the Luftwaffe High Command switched to London attacks they were days from defeating the RAF