The Battle
of Britain
2020 commemorates the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
The involvement of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm in the Battle of Britain is relatively unknown and yet, despite its small numbers, had a significant impact on the battle.
The Battle of Britain took place from
July to October 1940.
Having defeated France in the Spring of 1940,
Germany began a campaign of air raids on Britain
aiming to force a surrender or enabling a German
invasion - Operation Sealion.
The German air force, the Luftwaffe, targeted ports and ships, tried to destroy the RAF, aircraft
factories and airfields, and then began bombing
London in what become known as ‘The Blitz’.
Did you know …
Fighting between aircraft in the air is called a ‘ dogfight ’. During the Battle of Britain people on the ground could see the vapour trails from the fighting aircraft making patterns across the skies.
Of the nearly 3,000 pilots who flew during the
Battle of Britain, 57 were Fleet Air Arm (FAA) pilots. Some pilots flew with FAA Squadrons, whilst other FAA pilots completed RAF flying training and were assigned to RAF fighter Squadrons.
Have a go … Guide th e S pitfire through the maze
safely home to the airfield.
33 FAA pilots served with 804 and 808 , the two
Fleet Air Arm Squadrons officially classed as having taken an active part in the Battle of Britain.
They operated under Fighter Command, providing
Dockyard defence.
804 Naval Air Squadron, based at Hatston, consisted of 22 pilots flying Gloster Sea Gladiators
(and later the Grumman Martlet).
The 11 pilots of 808 Squadron, based at Wick, were
equipped with Fairey Fulmars.
Look at this … You can see a G rumman Martlet and a Fairey Fulmar in Hall 2.
Have a go … Complete the drawing of a Fairey Fulmar by joining the dots.
24 FAA pilots joined RAF Fighter
Command squadrons during the Battle of Britain, flying Spitfires and Hurricanes.
Did you know …
Four FAA pilots became fighter ‘ aces ’ - a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.
Richard John "Dickie" Cork, DSO, DSC (4 April 1917 – 14
April 1944) was a fighter ace in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal
Navy during World War 2.
SLt “ Dickie ” Cork (right)
Cork served in the Battle of Britain as the wingman for Douglas Bader of No. 242 Squadron RAF and was awarded the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) for his actions.
Of the 57 FAA pilots who flew in the Battle of
Britain, nine pilots were killed.
The Battle of Britain was one of the most important turning points of World War 2, and we should never forget the bravery of the few within ‘The Few' who fought in Naval uniform.
And this is to say nothing of the men and women that contributed in other ways to the defence of Britain during the summer and autumn of 1940, in
less visible but equally valuable roles.
‘Never, in the field of human
conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few’
Winston Churchill
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BATTLE OF BRITAIN
DICKIE CORK
FLEET AIR ARM
FULMAR
ROYAL AIR FORCE SEA GLADIATOR
- SPITFIRE
- DOGFIGHT
- HURRICANE
- LUFTWAFFE
- DOUGLAS BADER
- THE FEW
- FIGHTER COMMAND
- OPERATION SEALION
- WINSTON CHURCHILL
