Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain
(July - September 1940)
(July - September 1940)
Having advanced through Europe, to enable them to have any chance of a successful seaborne invasion of the United Kingdom, the German's would need to have as near as possible complete air superiority of the skies - this would mean the destruction of the R.A.F. as an effective fighting force.
The initial focus of the German attacks from mid-July was on shipping in the English Channel as well as coastal towns and their defences. From the 12th August, Goering switched the focus to attacking R.A.F. bases and radar installations as well as trying to draw the British fighters into dogfights with his own fighters. With the R.A.F. still fighting off these attacks with large numbers of aircraft, Goering became more frustrated and with Adolf Hitler's authorisation, once again changed the focus of the attacks to bombing London and other major cities. This 76 day period of continuous attacks was to become known as 'the Blitz'. It was intended to break the morale of the British people. Not only did it fail in doing so, but it also allowed the R.A.F. breathing space to replenish and repair it's assets.
On the 15th September, believing the R.A.F. to be on the verge of collapse, the Luftwaffe launched 2 massive daylight bombing raids against principaly London but also Southampton and Portland. However, the R.A.F. were in better shape than the German's realised and were able to intercept and scatter the raiders - thus greatly reducing the damage that they were hoping to inflict. The Luftwaffe incurred it's highest losses for over a month. Although fighting in the air continued for several more weeks and the U.K. mainland was bombed sporadically for the rest of the war, the German's had failled to achieve air superiority. Sunday 15th September - Battle of Britain day as it was to become known, was a meaningful defeat for the Germans and on the 17th September Hitler postponed his invasion plans.
Royal Mail (Post Office) Commemorative Stamp Issues
13th September 1965 25th Anniversary stamp set
15th September 2010 70th Anniversary Smilers Sheet & Spitfire Design Classics Retail booklet
16th July 2015 75th Anniversary Miniature Sheet
The initial focus of the German attacks from mid-July was on shipping in the English Channel as well as coastal towns and their defences. From the 12th August, Goering switched the focus to attacking R.A.F. bases and radar installations as well as trying to draw the British fighters into dogfights with his own fighters. With the R.A.F. still fighting off these attacks with large numbers of aircraft, Goering became more frustrated and with Adolf Hitler's authorisation, once again changed the focus of the attacks to bombing London and other major cities. This 76 day period of continuous attacks was to become known as 'the Blitz'. It was intended to break the morale of the British people. Not only did it fail in doing so, but it also allowed the R.A.F. breathing space to replenish and repair it's assets.
On the 15th September, believing the R.A.F. to be on the verge of collapse, the Luftwaffe launched 2 massive daylight bombing raids against principaly London but also Southampton and Portland. However, the R.A.F. were in better shape than the German's realised and were able to intercept and scatter the raiders - thus greatly reducing the damage that they were hoping to inflict. The Luftwaffe incurred it's highest losses for over a month. Although fighting in the air continued for several more weeks and the U.K. mainland was bombed sporadically for the rest of the war, the German's had failled to achieve air superiority. Sunday 15th September - Battle of Britain day as it was to become known, was a meaningful defeat for the Germans and on the 17th September Hitler postponed his invasion plans.
Royal Mail (Post Office) Commemorative Stamp Issues
13th September 1965 25th Anniversary stamp set
15th September 2010 70th Anniversary Smilers Sheet & Spitfire Design Classics Retail booklet
16th July 2015 75th Anniversary Miniature Sheet
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