WWII – The Battle of BritainBy Preston Beckner

Table of Contents

• The Battle• Compare Fighters• Map• Effects of the Battle• Summary• Glossary• Bibliography

The Battle

• July-October 1940– France, Poland, and Belgium had fallen and

Adolf Hitler expected peace from Britain on Germany’s terms.

– Britain did not agree.• Battle was fought in the air.• Radar

Compare the Fighters

- 355mph at 19,000’ - 354mph at 12,000’

- Slightly better turning - Better diving

- Eight Browning .303 - Two 7.9mm machine guns,

Machine guns two 20mm cannons

Supermarine Spitfire Messerschmitt BF-109

Map of German Attack Plan

Effects of Battle

• R.A.F. shot down about two German aircraft for each British loss.

• Realized importance of Radar.• Germany’s First Defeat!

- Finally Germany had lost a battle and the Luftwaffe was weakened.

• Led to developing better fighters…

North American P-51 Mustang, Allied Fighter

Developed soon after the battle for escorting bombers over Germany.

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

- - Winston ChurchillIf the outnumbered Royal Air Force had not defeated the invading German Luftwaffe, England would have been invaded and defeating the German army would have been very difficult.

Glossary

• R.A.F. – Royal Air Force• Luftwaffe – German Air Force• Fighter – Small, fast, and maneuverable

aircraft used to shoot down enemy aircraft.• Escort – To accompany and provide

protection • Radar – RAdio Detection And Ranging. A

way to detect objects far away using radio waves.

Bibliography

• ARCO- AIRCAM AVIATION SERIES NO.13 BATTLE OF BRITIAN, Christopher F. Shores, Arco Publishing Co. 1969

• WORLD WAR II, C.L. Sulzburger, Crown Publishers Inc., 1966

• http// www. wikipedia .org/ wiki / Battle_of_Britian