Although the British fighter had four such guns on each wing they had to be zeroed, at a range of about 200 yards, to ensure the rounds had maximum effect. D = Dakota. By the end, the RAF had lost 1,744 and the Luftwaffe 1,977. Despite shooting down twice as many German planes in the sky, the RAF lost many of their aircraft when they were destroyed on the ground. Captain (now honorary Colonel) Tom Moore, a WWII veteran, has raised millions for the NHS. Very few aircraft could be developed from a 900 horsepower engine to a 2,000 horsepower engine and still fly just as delightfully, he says. “It’s worth giving a moment’s thought to what it must have been like to be shot at after such little time,” Mr Grace says. We taxi and park on the grass in front of the cafe, packed with socially distanced aircraft enthusiasts. They are operated by the Royal Air Force and have been based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire since 1976. My information will not be shared with any third party (see our Privacy Statement - opens in a new window). Tony Gussin. Pop up above the clouds and it’s silky smooth. https://planbee.com/products/battle-of-britain-freebee-pack, ‘Hometown Hero’ Poppy Fardell releases latest single, Exmouth Town back in action next Wednesday night, Emma Richardson: Join the Exmouth ‘Boo without the Bugs’, Seven confirmed cases at Exmouth’s Deaf Academy. At the end of October 1940, Hitler abandoned his plans to invade Britain. ● The Messerschmitt bf 109 was the most dangerous German fighter plane. He has generously - and bravely - allowed me to take control of the aircraft to experience a little of what The Few went through in the skies over southern England. ", "It's a special day when you put Spitfire in your log book. If worked hard on a hot day the engine could overheat in flight; deadly when Bf109s were hunting. You can also watch our video interviews with RAF veterans who took part and read our exclusive Battle of Britain blogs. Watch our videos that include interviews with Battle of Britain veterans who share their memories of the Battle. Mr Grace’s father rebuilt  ML407 having seen it advertised in the back of a paper in 1979. Linda Duffield . “I’m lucky to have grown up in aviation,” he says. That’s where it’s at its best. Learn how your comment data is processed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It was a “woefully small amount of fuel,” Mr Grace, 36, says. Download free resources at https://planbee.com/products/battle-of-britain-freebee-pack . The Luftwaffe’s Heinkel He III was capable of carrying bombs weighing up to 250kg. “When you’re airborne, you can hear them talking to you.”. Battle of Britain Spitfire fighter planes in formation. Click the link in the orange box above for details. Below are the 2020 display dates & venues for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF): L = Lancaster, S = Spitfire, H = Hurricane, D = Dakota.Selected flypasts in Italics. ● At the beginning of the Battle of Britain, the RAF had 1,963 aircraft while the Luftwaffe had 2,550. The Spitfire’s perfect design flatters what one of my instructors once called my ‘agricultural’ handling. Find out more. The early model Spitfires (Marks 1 to 5), had a stall speed of around 40 knots with gear and flap down, much slower than aircraft with comparable top speeds, such as the German Messerschmitts. The first bombs were dropped on 10th July 1940. Today is Battle of Britain Day. Air-to-air combat was usually won by the aircraft that could maintain control at low speeds to turn sharper than the opponent. Likewise, the Spitfire’s centre of gravity, regardless of ammunition load, was just in front of the pilot. It was the first major air force campaign and the largest aerial bombing campaign to that date. Mr Grace has almost 2,000 flying hours, 400 of which are in Spitfires. Tributes to Kenley's fallen on the new build estate next to the airfield. Sunday September 15th 1940, was not only the turning point of the Battle of Britain, it was the turning point of the whole war. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight or BBMF presently consist of twelve aircraft:- 6 Spitfires, 2 Hurricanes, Lancaster, Dakota, and 2 Chipmunks. Having the opportunity to compare all these fighters is just brilliant. They completed three passes before returning to their base at RAF Coningsby. Dowty Propellers, All rights reserved | Privacy Policy I have just over a thousand, mostly helicopters. It was ground-breaking for its day, Mr Grace says, a revolution in aircraft design which took future improvements well. Sep 16, 2020 | People by Jennifer Villarreal On the 80th anniversary of Battle of Britain Day, GE Aviation salutes the many involved in the battle that gave us the freedom we enjoy today. 2020 marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain which took place between July and October 1940. Linda Duffield . Mr Grace is happy to take the bait and steers the aircraft around one of each, surrounded by the city of clouds. Sign up to receive the RAFBF e-newsletter, © 2020 Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (RAFBF), registered charity in England and Wales (1081009) and in Scotland (SC038109), Terms and conditions   Privacy   Accessibility   Cookies   Contact us   Feedback. Mon 14 Sep 2020 19.01 ... the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. In the early days of the war pilots could have had only 15 hours on Spitfire before they were flying in combat on front line squadrons. Battle of Britain Day 2020: GE Aviation UK proud to support the military for 80 years September 16, 2020 On the 80th anniversary of Battle of Britain Day, GE Aviation salutes the many involved in the battle that gave us the freedom we enjoy today. They were an absolutely glorious sight in the clear blue sky, and a fitting tribute on this special anniversary.