Great Britain · Warfare / World War, 2nd. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
Churchill uses his skilful rhetoric to harden public opinion against capitulation, and to prepare the British for a long war. In his "This was their finest hour" speech on 18 June 1940, he said "the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin"
Tells Parliament the Battle of Britain is about to begin.
Declares that the Battle of France is over and the Battle of Britain is about to begin.
Uses the Finest Hour speech to prepare Britain for the coming air campaign.
Opening day of the Battle of Britain
Says, "there is a time to live & a time to die"
Oversees Britain's air defence as the Luftwaffe begins sustained attacks.
Commands Fighter Command as the official Battle of Britain period begins.
Directs Britain's integrated fighter defence through the Dowding System.
"Never in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few"
Germany has lost 1,733 planes compared to British loses of 915
Directs national resistance as the Luftwaffe launches Eagle Day.
An offensive is discovered when the British use the enigma machine
Coordinates Fighter Command during one of the battle's largest air actions.
Moves limited squadrons carefully between threatened sectors.
The largest air Battle of this period. 5 major actions are fought but the Germans lose 76 to Britains 34 aircraft
Continues attacking a German fighter despite severe burns and a burning Hurricane.
His actions later earn Fighter Command's only Victoria Cross of the war.
Advocates concentrating fighters into larger formations against German raids.
Leads No. 242 Squadron during the Battle of Britain.
Britain retaliates for attacks on London with a raid against Berlin.
The Berlin raid influences German decisions about subsequent bombing strategy.
Retaliation for the bombing of London. RAF bombers attack Berlin for the 1st time
Dowding manages reserves as pressure on southern sector stations increases.
Fighter Command flies more than one thousand sorties during intense fighting.
Bales out badly wounded and later loses part of his left leg.
Is shot down during combat with German bombers east of Duxford.
Radar information helps Fighter Command conserve pilots and aircraft.
The "Dowding system", a set of reporting chains to move information from the various observation points to the pilots in their fighters, named after its chief architect
Uses radar warning to direct No. 11 Group fighters.
Continues communications duties during attacks on RAF Biggin Hill.
Her courage under bombing later brings the Military Medal.
Marks unexploded bombs while the station is under attack.
Remains at her post during bombing of RAF Biggin Hill.
Continues working during repeated attacks on RAF Biggin Hill.
Her service under fire later earns the Military Medal.
Is wounded while flying with No. 242 Squadron during the London raids.
Returns safely despite facial injuries caused during combat.
Leads fighters from Duxford during the major September battles.
Supports the use of large Big Wing formations against Luftwaffe bombers.
Oversees defence during the decisive daylight air battle.
Observes Fighter Command committing its available squadrons against the raids.
Visits No. 11 Group headquarters during the climactic daylight attacks.
Coordinates Fighter Command during the decisive September air battles.
The day's German losses undermine hopes of defeating Fighter Command.
Tells the country that invasion danger remains despite RAF success.
Buckingham Palace is hit by 6 bombs while George VI is in residence
Commands Fighter Command through the official final day of the Battle of Britain.
The Luftwaffe has failed to gain the air superiority required for invasion.
Supports continued expansion of aircraft output after the Battle of Britain.
The "Dowding system", a set of reporting chains to move information from the various observation points to the pilots in their fighters, named after its chief architect. Credited with winning the battle and made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Stays in London during the Battle of Britain & the Blitz
Appointed Commander of 12 Group during the Battle of Britain
Leigh-Mallory is critical of the tactics of Park and Sir Hugh Dowding, head of Fighter Command, believing that not enough was being done to allow wing-sized formations to operate successfully. Forms the "Big Wing" formations to attack German bombers. Devises with Acting Squadron Leader Douglas Bader a massed fighter formation known as the Big Wing, which they used, with little success, to hunt German bomber formations
This record states: After the Battle of Britain, Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal, the new Chief of the Air Staff, who had agreed with Leigh-Mallory, removed both Park and Dowding from their posts.
Germany bombs Canterbury in the biggest daylight raid since the Battle of Britain
This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.