Posted on 07/10/2010 5:50:06 PM PDT by naturalman1975
The scene is still one of the most evocative in this island's history: dashing young pilots in their fighter planes, defying the odds as they speed across blue summer skies towards the intruder above southern England.
A German aircraft goes into an uncontrollable spin, smoke pouring from its bullet-riddled engine as it plunges to earth.
At an RAF station on the ground, the mellifluous voice of Vera Lynn wafts from a nearby wireless. From the House of Commons chamber, Winston Churchill's whisky-soaked growl rouses a nation to resistance at its moment of darkest peril.
Seventy years on, the Battle of Britain continues to have such resonance because the campaign so magnificently fused an epic quality with a moral purpose.
It represented the classic fight between good and evil; between freedom and tyranny.
It was the ancient myth of St George slaying the Dragon made real. The Arthurian legend translated into the modern world, with the Knights of the Round Table cast as the selfless-RAF pilots and the sword of Excalibur as the fighter force.
Yet, for all this heroic glory, a sad injustice hangs over the battle.
For the summer of 1940 will always be associated with the Supermarine Spitfire, the single-engined RAF plane which became the most potent symbol of Britain's fight against German subjugation. The very name Spitfire is now synonymous with victory in the air.
But this is a travesty of what really happened in the crucial months of 1940.
.....
The overall distribution between the two fighters was largely reflected in German losses. According to the Air Ministry's own figures, for every two Luftwaffe planes brought down by the Spitfires, three were shot down by Hurricanes.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Great story out there that chronicles American pilots that fought in the Battle of Britain. (The Few)
Good article.
I would gladly join such a force to fight Obama.... what to do?????????
I knew that!
And the best Hurricane RAF Squadron was the 303rd (Kosciuzsko Squadron) consisting of Polish pilots.
The Spit was a downright fast, sexy plane, but the Hawker was a rock solid gun platform.
In the end it always comes down to accuracy.
What to do?
Do it the peaceful, legal, American Way....
...go to a Tea Party, sign up today!
Tell that to the guys in Philly in July 1776.
The Hawker had 20mm guns perfect for taking down Bombers, while the Spitfire was a better dogfighter.
The Spitfire depicted is a later model (Mk. X or later?) since the “ovoid” wings have been clipped at the ends and the canopy is a bigger bubble than a Mk. III or IV Supermarine Spitfire. Also, the photo shows a four-bladed prop (Battle of Britain Spits were three-bladed).
Spitfire, even better but in fewer numbers.
Both flown by gallant pilots willing to die for their country.
In my aviation class we were shown films about the BoB ... it showed the Hurricanes would go after the bombers while the Spits took on their escort fighters ....
The Hurricane did not have 20mm cannons during the Battle of Britain; it had the same 8 x .303 machine guns as the Spitfire.
Both fighters would get 20mm cannons after the Battle of Britain, in later versions.
I recall reading several years ago that the Hurricane and Spitfire had just about equal success per encounter. It basically means given anything like comparable performance, it is the pilot who makes the difference.
Of course if the pilots are equal then the plane would make a difference.
I will say the Spitfire was the prettiest plane ever.
I read an interesting article that said one of the small reasons that the Brits won because we were providing the Brits with high octane aviation fuel. This allowed the Brits to increase the boost from their superchargers and add horsepower. High octane was only produced in the US t that time. Not available during the Battle for France.
I read an interesting article that said one of the small reasons that the Brits won because we were providing the Brits with high octane aviation fuel. This allowed the Brits to increase the boost from their superchargers and add horsepower. High octane was only produced in the US t that time. Not available during the Battle for France.
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