battle of britain

The Battle of Britain

• 

  2011 marks the 71st anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which was fought between July and October 1940. New Zealanders played a key role in this vital struggle, flying the Hurricanes and Spitfires of Fighter Command, or serving in other roles in the air, at sea and on the ground.

  Read the full article

• Page 2 – The invasion threat

  The origins of the Battle of Britain lay in the dramatic and unexpected collapse of the Allied front in Western Europe in May-June 1940.

• Page 3 – Opposing forces

  British preparationsSir Hugh Dowding with Battle of Britain pilotsWhile the military authorities struggled to make good post-Dunkirk deficiencies, the Royal Air Force (RAF) was

• Page 4 – The battle: July-August

  The battle: first phaseBritish pilots 'scramble', July 1940Luftwaffe (German air force) commanders recognised that their main task was to whittle down the strength of Royal Air

• Page 5 – The battle: September-October

  Tactical disputesPainting of Keith Park, 1940In early September 1940 Britons steeled themselves for the German invasion that now seemed imminent.

• Page 6 – New Zealand's contribution

  New Zealanders in the battleAlan Deere's Nine Lives memoirThere were many New Zealanders among ‘the Few’ – Churchill’s grateful description of the airmen who took part in the

• Page 7 – Aftermath

  The tollNew Zealand pilot's gravestoneBoth sides lost heavily during the Battle of Britain. More than 1700 Luftwaffe (German air force) planes were destroyed.

• Page 8 – Kiwi stories

  Selected biographies of New Zealanders involved in the Battle of Britain.

• Page 9 – Roll of honour

  List of New Zealand aircrew who died while serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, July-October 1940. Includes link to full list of those who served.

• Page 10 – Further information

  This web feature was written by Ian McGibbon with the assistance of Gareth Phipps, who wrote the biographies. The feature was produced by the NZHistory.net.nz team.