Britain, Battle of
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British Spitfire fighter plane. The Spitfire was designed by R J Mitchell and, together with the Hurricane, brought victory in the Battle of Britain.
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The Avro Lancaster B2 on a Battle of Britain Memorial flight. The Lancaster was probably the most effective heavy bomber used by the Royal Air Force during World War II.
World War II air battle between German and British air forces over Britain from 10 July to 31 October 1940. The height of the battle occurred 30–31 August.
At the outset the Germans had the advantage because they had seized airfields in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, which were basically safe from attack and from which southeast England was within easy range. On 1 August 1940 the Luftwaffe had about 2,800 aircraft in France, Belgium, Holland, and Norway, outnumbering the RAF by four to one. The Battle of Britain had been intended as a preliminary to the German invasion plan Seelöwe (Sea Lion), which Hitler indefinitely postponed on 17 September and abandoned on 10 October, choosing instead to invade the USSR.
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