Battle of Britain Day 15 September
Battle of Britain Day 15 September
Every September we pause to commemorate the 1940 Battle of Britain.
This year will be particularly significant – it’s 85 years since the very real and immediate possibility of enemy invasion was halted by the intensive aerial combat engaged by the Royal
Air Force over much of Southern England.
By the end of June 1940 most of Western Europe was under occupation. In just six weeks the German armed forces had swept across Europe and into France, forcing the evacuation of Allied forces from the beaches of Dunkirk.
On 30th June 1940 German forces occupied our Channel Islands – an ordeal that would last until 9th May 1945.
Britain and her Commonwealth stood alone, with the certain expectation that the full might of the Enemy would now be turned on the British mainland.
The all-out assault to destroy the RAF began on 13th August with attacks on our Chain Home Radar stations, the World’s first early warning radar network, including nearby Poling (Arundel), and Ventnor (Isle of Wight), and including 1485 sorties against RAF and RNAS airfields, ports and aircraft factories.
RAF Tangmere, just 2 miles away from Aldingbourne and a Fighter Command Sector Station, was heavily attacked. Enemy total strength that day is recorded at 4074 aircraft, against just 1963 RAF aircraft.
The human cost was immense. Between July and October 1940 RAF Fighter Command total losses were 1012 aircraft and 537 airmen. The Luftwaffe lost 1918 aircraft and 2662 airmen.
The Battle reached its decisive turning point on September 15th when the RAF engaged the largest coordinated bomber and fighter attacks launched on London. That day the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill , was at RAF command HQ Uxbridge with Air Vice-Marshall Keith Park, watching the climactic battle progress. Churchill asked, ‘ What other reserves have we?’ Park replied ‘There are none’
This date – September 15th - now commemorated as Battle of Britain Day – marked the moment when the strategic initiative in the air war shifted firmly to Britain and its Commonwealth airmen. The Luftwaffe suffered unsustainable losses, and 2 days later the German invasion was postponed indefinitely.
Timeline Credit: www.battleofbritain.com
Does YOUR family have any connections or memories or photographs to share of the events of 1940 – particularly at RAF Tangmere, RNAS Ford, or RAF Westhampnett? We would love to hear from you! Email us at : clerk@aldingbourne-pc.gov.uk
2025 Battle of Britain Day Events:
Westminster Abbey Sunday 21st Sept. Service of Thanksgiving.
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum
A series of subject talks throughout September, including:
6th & 7th Sept: ACM. Sir Keith Park, GCB, KBE, MC+Bar, DFC
13th Sept: Gp.Capt. Sir Douglas Bader CBE, DSO+Bar, DFC+Bar
14th Sept: RAF Westhampnett (Goodwood)
Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridge
6th and 7th Sept: Battle of Britain Airshow – BBMF Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster Flypast.
Chain Home Radar – Poling, West Sussex (Wikipedia)
Chain Home Radar Aerials – RAF Ventnor, Isle of Wight (RR)
SPITFIRE Credit: Pexels David Bell
SPITFIRE Credit Pexels: Stevecormie
