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� AMAZING ANSWERS To Cumous QuEsTIONS

What happened at

the Battle of Britain?

70 years ago an epic conflict took place
between Allied and Axis powers. It was one
of the defining moments of World War II and
changed the nature of armed conflict forever

he Battle ofBritainwasan At the head of Britain's defence was
exclusively aerial campaign Hugh Dowding, the then Air Chief
T between Allied and Axis Marshal of the RAF and Fighter
forces which began in the summer of Command, which had been set up in
1940and culminated in Mayoh941. 1936 to oversee and manage Britain's
The objective of the German-led aerial emerging modern air force. Fighter
assault on Britain was to completely Command led its RAF-based defence
destroy the Royal Air Force (RAF) and of Britain from Bentley Priory,
render Fighter Command useless, so a London, communicating with
planned land invasion of Britain airfields, radar stations, pilots and
could begin. The Luftwaffe other communications headquarters
(Germany's air force) was ordered by over the south east (where the
Hitler to drive the RAF from the skies majority of the battle took place) and
in 'the shortest possible time', and led other regions of the country. At his
by notable First World War veteran disposal was a well-ordered yet
fighter pilot Hermann Wilhelm numerically inferior air force to that of
Goring, the then Reich Minister of the Germans, with many pilots
Aviation, what was to follow was a lacking valuable experience.
costly- in terms of human life and Contrary to Dowding, Goring
financially- battle of attrition. inherited a Luftwaffe of great

Who were
Luftwaffe 303 Squadron;> Fighter Command
Who led the German attack? Who led Britain's resistance?
Name: Hermann Wilhelm Goring he Battle of Britain saw over a Name: Hugh Dowding
Tthousand enemy aircraft shot
Rank: Reich Minister of Aviation Rank: Air Chief Marshal
down by British RAF squadrons,
Description: The last commander of legendary and none more so than the famous Description: An experienced officer, Dowding
ace fighter pilot 'The Red Baron', Goring was Polish 303s. No. 303 Polish Fighter was set to retire shortly before WWII, only to be
responsible for German Luftwaffe. In his youth he Squadron was one of 16 Pol ish persuaded to stay on until the situation had
had flown in the First World War and was respected squadrons in the Royal Air Force stabilised. He is often credited as the mastermind
by the Germans as a notable commander. during the Second World War and behind Britain's success in the Battle of Britain.
won acclaim for their
Name: Hugo Sperrle Name: Keith Park
marksmanship and aerial ability
Rank: General Field Marshal during the conflict. Scoring higher Rank: Air Vice Marshal
Description: General Field Marshal of the than any other squadron, 303 Description: In tactical command during
Luftwaffe, Sperrle advised Hitler that the competed with other RAF the Battle of Britain, Park was in charge of
destruction of Britain's air force was key to winning squadrons in a competition as to protecting London from attack. Flying a
the war. Air Fleet 3, which he commanded, played a who could shoot down the most personalised Hurricane, Park held a
major role in the battle but suffered heavy losses. enemy aircraft. By the end of the reputation as a shrewd tactician.
Battle of Britain they had won
Name: Albert Kesselring unequivocally, recording an Name: Trafford Leigh-Mallory
immense 808 hits. In fact, the top
Rank: General Field Marshal Rank: Air Officer Commanding
three places in this competition's
Description: Kesselring orchestrated leaderboard were taken by three of Description: The commander of 11 Group RAF
combat in Poland, France and at the Battle of the 12 Polish squadrons, had open disagreements with Park and Dowding
Britain. He is credited with the Coventry Blitz of outgunning the best British over the tactics to counter the German threat. He
November 1940 and won the respect of allied squadron by far, who only racked was credited as creating the 'Big Wing' fighter
powers with his military accomplishments. up 150 hits. formation to hunt German bombers.
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