The Battle of Britain:
A beginner's guide
The
dual-seater Spitfire owned by Carolyn Grace, as it appeared on the
Channel 4 series Spitfire Ace
Enlarge image
From July to September 1940, Hitler sent waves of bombers and their escorts across the Channel to Britain, to soften it up before the proposed German invasion. In the event, 'the Few' – the brave young RAF pilots in their Spitfires and Hurricanes – convinced the Nazis to go elsewhere.
Here you will find websites, books, films, museums and other sources that you can use to find out more about – and get some idea of the experience of – the Battle of Britain.
- The battle online
From the official RAF site to an enthusiast's timeline, here you'll find an enormous amount about the battle, the combatants and the aircraft. - Reading about the battle
The best books that give an overview of the air conflict, plus the stories of those who fought it and a few other bits and pieces. - Seeing what's left
See the aircraft in museums and in the air. - Researching the battle
Sources of information, from archives and the Ministry of Defence to the Friends of the Few. - Watching the battle
Films stretching from 1941 to 2001 that took the Battle of Britain as a subject. - Playing the battle
Two video games and a soundtrack.
