Battle of Britain

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Britain, Battle of
Britain, Battle of, 10 July to 31 October 1940, the first battle in history to be fought exclusively in the air, resulted in the Royal Air Force's Fighter Command compelling the German Luftwaffe to abandon its attempt to establish air superiority over south and east England. Without that superiority, a German invasion of Britain was impracticable. Only one Canadian unit participated, although many more Canadians serving in the RAF were in the forefront.

No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron (later No 401), flying Hawker Hurricanes and commanded by Squadron Leader E.A. McNab, first met the enemy on August 25. When withdrawn on October 9 the squadron had been credited with 30 enemy aircraft destroyed and 8 "probables." Three Canadians had been killed and 10 wounded or injured in crash landings.

See also WORLD WAR II.

Author BRERETON GREENHOUS


Links to Other Sites
The Battle of Britain
This Veterans Affairs Canada website focuses on the many Canadians who served in the the Battle of Britain during the Second World War.

The Memory Project: Battle of Britain
Listen to interviews with Canadian veterans who provide remarkable first-hand accounts of their wartime military service. See also related digitized artefacts and memorabilia. From the Historica Dominion Institute.

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