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Marking 82 Years Since the Battle of Britain

From July to October 1940, ‘The Few’ of the RAF defended the skies against ‘The Many’ of the German Luftwaffe. 82 years later, the legacy of the Battle of Britain lives on.

To mark the anniversary of the Battle of Britain, we’re taking a look back at this momentous event, which saw just 2,945 RAF aircrew overcome the blitzkrieg of Nazi Germany. We’ll share interesting facts and information about the battle, and fill you in on how we’re marking the occasion with a special promotional campaign.

A brief history of the Battle of Britain

By June 1940, much of Europe had fallen to Nazi Germany. Having swept through France, Hitler’s focus turned to Britain – and the threat of a Nazi invasion became all too real.

To achieve this, Hitler understood that Germany would need air and sea superiority. But that meant overcoming the combined forces of the Royal Navy and the RAF – no mean feat for any invading power.

In July 1940, Hitler instructed the Luftwaffe to rain hellfire on British soil. Known as ‘the Blitz’, this period saw near-hourly bombing raids inflicted on strategic targets across the country, with the aim being to knock Britain out of the war.

Responding, the RAF scrambled to intercept the Luftwaffe, with squadrons of Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes matched against the superior force of Germany’s Messerschmitt Bf109s and Junckers Ju 88s.

Though outnumbered, the RAF offered staunch resistance, repelling wave after wave of attacks from across the Channel. Their success is credited with a pioneering use of radar, superior tactics, and a dedicated ground crew that risked everything to keep aircrews in the sky.

By August, Germany was reportedly losing up to 200 aircraft a day. Recognising the early signs of defeat, Hitler scaled back the assault, focusing instead on nightly bombing raids.

Though these raids continued until the end of the war, the RAF had achieved what many thought was impossible. Outnumbered and outgunned, its brave aircrews held off the Nazi war machine for four long months, defending a nation and marking a key turning point in the war.

The Battle of Britain in numbers

To put the RAF’s victory and exploits into perspective, here are some of the most telling facts and stats to emerge from the Battle of Britain…

• Though around 3,000 RAF pilots took part in the battle, they were supported by thousands more on the ground. Indeed, by July, over 1.5 million men and women had enrolled to help the war effort, including radar operators and Home Guard volunteers.
• The RAF had just four minutes to respond to and intercept a Luftwaffe raid. After an enemy aircraft was detected, it took an average of 20 minutes to reach the UK. In contrast, RAF fighters could be scrambled in 16 minutes, leaving a four-minute window for Fighter Command to finalise tactics.
• RAF ground crews proved the backbone of the British defence, working tirelessly day and night to keep planes in the sky. Some 312 personnel were killed on the ground over the course of the Battle of Britain.
• Although the RAF had some 3,000 fighters, only 749 were available to fight at any one time. By contrast, the Luftwaffe had 2,550, which shows the improbability of an Allied victory.
• The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is an annual air show commemorating those lost in service of the RAF since the Battle of Britain. It takes place every July and features some of the aircraft which took part in the battle, including six Spitfires and two Hurricanes.

Commemorating the Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain is remembered as a turning point in World War II, paving the way for the Allied victory that would follow five years later. It showed British resolve to the world, with the strength and sacrifice of a nation offering a glimmer of hope to millions around the globe.

To commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the Battle of Britain, we’re launching a special promotional menu across all our stores. Our Battle of Britain promotion will run from 8th-13th September, giving personnel the opportunity to enjoy a meal and reflect on the legacy of this landmark event.

To find out what’s on offer as part of our Battle of Britain event, head to the Eatery or explore the menu in your SideBySide app.