Britain (Battle of)
War: World War II


Date: 10 Jul 1940
Location: Britain
Outcome: British victory Decisive battle

Overview: For over a month, the skies over Britain were filled with aircraft from the British Royal Air Force defending England against the bombing raids of the German Luftwaffe. Germany began its air campaign against Britain on August 13, 1940, in preparation for an invasion of the island nation. What the Germans did not count on was the tenacious defense of the Royal Air Force. The Germans needed to attain air superiority before they could begin their invasion, so they concentrated their attacks on British airfields and aircraft using a variety of fighters and bombers.
The British responded with Hurricanes and Spitfires and the use of radar, which allowed them to see the German formations even before they left French airspace. In late August, the Germans changed their tactics from bombing airfields to bombing cities, especially London, and thus began the continued campaign against civilians which lasted throughout the rest of the war. The Germans greatly underestimated the strength of the British, and, combined with mounting losses, abandoned their planned invasion. The Royal Air Force had won the Battle of Britain.