75th Anniversary

Issue Date: 16th July 2015

This miniature sheet commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which was fought in the
skies over southern England from July to late October 1940 and was a key turning point of the Second
World War. The six stamps feature photographic imagery from this period, showing some of the many
aspects of the battle and the people involved, including pilots, ground crew, observers and Operations Room
staff. The miniature sheet border features an image of Prime Minister Winston Churchill at a coast defence
position near Hartlepool on 31 July 1940, alongside his famous quotation about ‘the few’.

Stamp Details

Pilots Scramble - First Class
RAF fighter pilots rush to their Hurricanes after receiving the ‘scramble’ call to engage enemy aircraft.

Super-marine Spitfires - First Class
Super-marine Spitfires of 610 Squadron, based at Biggin Hill, patrol the skies in close formation.

Armourer - First Class
Armourer Fred Roberts re-arms a Supermarine Spitfire while the pilot, Sergeant Bernard Jennings, talks to
his mechanic.

Spotters - £1.33
Recruits of the Auxiliary Territorial Service receive their first lesson in identifying enemy aircraft.

Operations Room - £1.33
The Operations Room at Bentley Priory, the headquarters of Fighter Command, was part of a complex air
defence system.

Pilots of 32 Squadron - £1.33
Fighter pilots of 32 Squadron relax between flying missions at RAF Hawkinge in Kent.