American Army Veteran Reacts To "World War II: The 13 Hours That Saved Britain"

[@sharonkemp1454]

The average age of a Battle of Britain pilot was 20, and their average life expectancy was 4 weeks. We owe them a debt that can never be repaid; we owe them our freedom

[@Ionabrodie69]

We certainly do..👍🇬🇧

[@jamesguitar7384]

My father was one of The Few , a pilot . He almost never spoke of it but I believe it made him harder but also maybe kinder . He was 20 then .

[@martinconnors5195]

The Polish and Czechoslovak airmen were amazing

[@paulaemartin674]

My dad was ground crew RAF..Ended up posted to Canada

[@weeddegree]

Great men

[@jeremytiernan8511]

The Polish 303 squadron of Spitfires had the highest kill rate in the battle of Britain. We owe them, all the British, commonwealth and Eurpean pilots a huge debt of gratitude. Thank you all!

[@angelstars6755]

Then you learn how abysmally those Polish men were treated at the end of the war. 😔

[@daneelolivaw602]

@@angelstars6755 "How abysmally those Polish men were treated at the end of the war." Over 250,000 Polish service men and their families were offered British Citizenship after WW2. How is that for abysmal.

[@CollieDog24]

303 Squadron of poles flew Hurricanes not Spitfires

[@ejakeulater4990]

We gave them a home and a land when theirs was taken, ofcourse they were going to help us out. They did us a solid because we were their new bastion

[@philipgrabarski3775]

Wrong . The poles hated the Germans.

[@watkinsrory]

As a non British citizens i am very happy you treat the efforts the brits made at the start of the war with respect. It's not a common attitude most Americans have on KZbin .

[@craigstewart-vo7bf]

And despite other peoples previous peoples comments, the UK appreciate every other countries help in this struggle. Families that lost family members in such battles

[@glenmiller272]

As Gorbachev once famously said.... 'never underestimate the British'..

[@krzysiekherma1185]

Polacy uratowali wasze zady

[@CarolWoosey-ck2rg]

​@@krzysiekherma1185we saved yours mate🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@CliveAdlam-yn8uz]

Hitler , took Poland in a day .What are you talking about?😊​@@krzysiekherma1185

[@DruncanUK]

Churchill followed the Battle Of Britain with a speech in August 1940 that included the famous line... "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed, by so many, to so few."

[@Galantus1964]

those words man still hits me right in the feels...

[@neilbadger4262]

I think the BBC interviewed a few pilots in later years and I remember at least one of them saying that even though they received all the accolades, it was because of the engineers and ground staff that enabled them to fly. But yes, Churchill had a way to say so much in so few words. I still like the "Fight them on the beaches" speech. The nice way of saying "Come on then, I'll bite your knee caps"

[@stevenscott1589]

It was reported that one pilot replied to the speech with the line "Christ!, Winston must have seen our bar tab"

[@jujulionesselsa1416]

My Grandma collected ammunition shells and used to polish them up and they shone wonderfully.

[@jujulionesselsa1416]

The sound of a Spitfire is glorious that Rolls Royce Engine is phenomenal.

[@deandavies9576]

being british makes me so damn proud, these are your ancestors too guys

[@matthewoconnell4700]

This is why us Brits always get angry when uninformed Americans always say they saved us in WW2, we saved ourselves before America even got involved, its a disrespect to all these brave men and women.

[@pauldurkee4764]

Matthew that's a bit strong, don't forget there was an eagle squadron of american volunteers flying with the RAF at the time. The american government was doing all it could at the time, despite not being at war, Franklin Roosevelt had to tread a very delicate line.

[@douglashenderson6191]

@@pauldurkee4764 There were nine American pilots who flew in the Battle of Britain. Nine. Meanwhile, besides the 2,342 British pilots who flew in the battle, there were 145 Poles, 127 New Zealanders, 112 Canadians, 88 Czechs, 32 Australians, 28 Belgians, 25 South Africans, and so on. (Source for those numbers is the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund). Those nine Americans were, of course, nine very brave men to put themselves in harm's way like that and individually contributed as much as any other pilot from any other country. But one cannot argue that America as a whole made any sort of significant contribution to the conduct or outcome of the battle. Lend-Lease hadn't even been signed into law yet - that happened in March 1941.

[@billythedog-309]

@@pauldurkee4764 How does that have any relevance? There are still ignorant Americans whose only knowledge of the war is what Hollywood portrays that claim without the USA the British would be speaking German.

[@matthewoconnell4700]

@@corporealcasimir4885 you realise we bought those supplies? while they were also supplying the NAZIS?

[@markbanner6473]

@@corporealcasimir4885 Navy and air force were not entirely wiped out. Show me the link if that's what you believe.

[@margaretreid2153]

That General you are talking about,was Air Vice Marshall Sir Keith Park,who was a New Zealander by birth,had fought in World War One,we are very proud of him here in New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@royw-g3120]

did not know that! Respect to the kiwis. Kind of ironic as kiwis are famously flightless!

[@pontiuspilot9301]

He was also responsible for the defense of Malta! Peace

[@haydengoodall6767]

​@@royw-g3120That was why there was a sense if mirth amongst our fellow airforces, the sigil emblazoned upon the Royal New Zealand airforce roundels was the image of a Kiwi bird. WW2 NZ pilots did earn great acclaim.

[@patriotunion7211]

We're very proud of him here Britain too!

[@DeathstarBaby]

The Defender of London

[@gmansid3576]

I’m in my sixties and have heard about the Battle of Britain more times than I remember. But as an Englishman that story still sends a shiver of pride through my spine. We can’t thank and respect that generation (sadly mostly gone now) enough for what they achieved and endured in WW2.

[@coolstorybrooooo7643]

>But as an Englishman that story still sends a shiver of pride through my spine You arent the only one.

[@janice506]

As a Scottish it gives me pride also but sadness now with what’s happening in our country.

[@louie334]

Thanks to all these men aged 20+ and all who saved us from evil and we all know what it's like to be attacked and bombed..still happening today all over the world war ..no winners ...it's all tragic peace for all in conflicts today..😮

[@neilbower9052]

Your praise should be going to the 21 MILLION + Russians that died fighting the Nazis in Europe. THEY broke the back of the Nazi War Machine, D-day was mopping up, the Nazis had already LOST

[@Bobmudu35UK]

Thanks for a respectful reaction chaps! 🇬🇧🇺🇲

[@hot5and77]

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" - Winston Churchill about the battle of Britain.

[@davidlawrence3503]

As an old English man I love the fact that these guys just get it.

[@eh-i1841]

The incredible bravery,of those airmen.I’m so thankful to them.🇬🇧

[@neilperry2224]

My late mother was strafed by a German pilot in the Second World War, she was staying with her grandparents nr Coventry and she was out in their garden. The German plane came over the house and strafed her, her grandfather raced out to her and protected her by covering her with his body. The bullets literally hit the ground right next to them, and she could remember the sound of the explosions of the bullets, her grandfather then carried her back to the house and there were no injuries. I have my grandfathers name as my middle name, William. I’m proud to have his name within mine.

[@ItsSpecialHands]

They used to strafe the factory girls here in Norwich too. Bastards.

[@ItsSpecialHands]

I have my grandfather's name as my middle name too, he was in the Navy during the war. Think if I ever have a son I'll give him granddad's name

[@sejbomb]

I’m from Coventry, was born there and stayed until I was 11 then moved down south. I learnt a lot about the war from the transport museum, mainly about the blitz but other parts too. I’m still just as fascinated now. My grandma was in the WAF and my grandfather in the RAF, my other grandfather in the navy. To this day I always wear a poppy and a spitfire badge on my uniform at work. A reminder of their fight to save us.

[@2opler]

Behind the Heroes of the RAF was a country with old men growing food in public spaces, children collecting plants for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, mothers building engines and bombers. Germany was only using its military. Britain was employing total war, with every hand raised against the enemy.

[@matthewcharles5867]

Similar to commonwealth country's like Australia main difference was our best troops were in the middle east while we sent mainly militia forces against the Japanese to buy time. Most of our airforce was in Britain.

[@denisemeredith2436]

My mom went out to pick Rosehips which were then taken to the local convent where they were turned into Rosehip Syrup so the kids could get some Vitamin C.

[@jeanbrown8295]

@@denisemeredith2436my brother was 8 at the time and he collected salvage,we younger ones helped him ,my mother did fire watching in the factory where she worked

[@paulaemartin674]

Mathew Charles I. Was a baby then BUT I THANK YOU...on behalf of my fellow citizens

[@banzi403]

@@denisemeredith2436 my mom lived on the parries in Canada. Her and her sister would collect animal bones, 5 cents for a wagon full.

[@darkmatter6714]

The Battle of Britain was and still is the largest and longest air combat campaign in history. About 5-6,000 aircraft took part over 9 months. There will never be another air combat campaign like it.

[@ianrandle2780]

I hope you are right. Never again.

[@johnmartinread157]

Never ?

[@JL16061980]

No the Russians will use biological weapons. That's their style. B*astards

[@ITzDaveXD]

@@johnmartinread157 planes no longer need to number in the 100s they need like 10 to do the same amount of damage as the older squadron's would deal out.

[@DannyBoy777777]

@ Dark Matter Not even close. The air war over Germany lasted six years.

[@ianoo23]

My Grandfather was a spitfire pilot during world war 2 and survived… he died in the late 80’s… I was too young to ask him stories and not sure he would have told me as I was around 10 when he died… my Gran died in 2006 and when we were emptying her loft we found the flight logs and photos of my Grandad… was a very proud thing to read and view as an adult not knowing much at all of his achievements and what he risked for this country.

[@martinemson3822]

Ah mate that is special

[@maureenmclelland]

My late father in law was in the RAF . During the Second World War . He was in the ground crew . He never spoker about his experience more so during The Battle of britan

[@annicecooper8105]

This was very common, so many that came back from war never spoke of what they had experienced. My grandfather only started to talk a little about his war later in his life. He didn't want to bring home the brutality to his family. He was doing it to spare us ❤

[@carolinejones8750]

I wonder if my grandfather mended your grandfathers plane !!!❤

[@TheWesternunionman]

Keith Miller was an Australian who flew in the Battle of Britain. He was also a test cricketer and played Australian Rules football. Later he was a sports commentator. Legend has it that he was commentating with a much younger colleague. The younger chap was talking about pressure out in the middle today. Miler responded “Son, this is a game of cricket, when an ME109 is diving on you out of the Sun, that’s pressure.”

[@kenhorlor5674]

Classic!!

[@peterireland4344]

Hahaha, ther version I heard was "A Meserschmitt up your arse" but same same. :) The other great Keith Miller story is that he took his Mosquito on an unauthorised trip to Bonn, because he wanted to see where Beethoven came from.

[@whattiler5102]

The Battle of Britain is regarded as ending on 31st October 1940. Keith Miller was sent to Britain and posted to active duty in March 1942. He was a magnificent cricketer and would have been a megastar in any format he chose these days.

[@Garwfechan-ry5lk]

Many of the Fighter Pilots were Czech and Polish and were very brave indeed. Great People.

[@mariahoulihan9483]

I had a uncle who married my Dad's older sister at the end of the war and she returned to his home. He was a pilot in the NZ Air Force and flew over here. so very far from home and helping.

[@matthewoconnell4700]

Very brave and great people, but not many, the biggest contingent was Poles, they were around 5%

[@daneelolivaw602]

Many more Pilots from many countries, South Africa, USA, Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Jamaica, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Rhodesia, and a few from the UK., great people, ALL OF THEM. Not just Poland.

[@dorothysimpson2804]

In the words of The King "It's Now or Never". I would add that we did have some pilots from other countries helping, Poland, Australia, Canada and others.

[@paulmurphy5648]

Just remember boys, in 1940 America was NOT in the war...It was us or NOTHING...we have not lost on home soil since 1066. Dowding is a long forgotten hero of WWII, he was an amazing man. The generation back then saw death, maimed bodies and destruction daily and got on with life, todays generation lose their internet connection and scream PTSD...shame on this generation...I salute the men, women and children of every race, creed, colour and religion who kept my country free - Thank you all...

[@dennishendrikx3228]

June 1667, the Dutch sailed right up the Medway with 60 ships and a1000 trained Marines, and destroyed 3 big ships and 10 smaller, docks and harbors. The English shitted their pants and destroyed dozons of their own ships. HMS royal Charles got toed to the Netherlands, as a prize. It was also the very first official marines. Chatham, it's surrounding forts and the protective chain got destroyed. Sheerness castle got taken by Dutch Marines, because English soldiers ran for their lives. The fort and the city were taken without force. Also the Scots have invaded numerous times.

[@kumasenlac5504]

Both Hugh Dowding and Keith Park were sidelined after the Battle of Britain - their prudence and conservative actions, while preserving RAF lives, did not sit well with the gung-ho attitude of the Prime Minister.

[@dinerouk]

@@dennishendrikx3228 Yes I know! Then was what it was, and got the king to beef up the defences, previously neglected!

[@John-ob7dh]

Yes well said .I am the proud holder of my Dads medal awarded to him by the French gov for being there on DDay 6th June. The Legion d Honneuer. ( instigated by Napoleon in 1804 ) for service to France. He lived a good long life to age 99.

[@orwellboy1958]

@@dennishendrikx3228 no successful invasions, though.

[@jamth118]

The only battle in history to be fully fought in the air I think, the Battle of Britain is completely unique in that manner

[@duncanfairbairn2195]

Us Brits are still of the same mentality now. Leave us to ourselves and we're good friends. Try to go against us? Run! Run away, now! Put us under pressure at your own risk. The sleeping lion still has teeth, and claws. Be respectful, and we're your best friend. Just dont push us too far.

[@sliderdriver1]

We seem to be taking a lot of crap from foreigners with protesters,beach invasions, government doing nothing about it all except arresting folk who complain about it all (us) so I'm not sure how many buttons of ours need pressing before as you say 'enough is enough'? To many do gooders,sympathisers, turn the other cheek type folk in this country these days. The lion died back in the 60's early 70's I'm afraid. And my friend,it's only going to get worse. This country of 'ours' is just a soup of the world now and fit for nothing. Nobody listened to Mr Powell and now we pay the price. God help us!

[@sliderdriver1]

Watch the news mate!lots of foreigners dictating and pushing us around and nothings getting done by government or the public! So much for lion and teeth?.what did the veterans die for? ,today's lot are woke and soft,wouldn't want 90% of behind me going to war!.

[@imnosuperman9935]

Hats of to the Polish Pilots!

[@jojox5136]

Out of interest how did the Polish pilots escape the Germans? That would be an interesting story did they cross into Russia?

[@brianhancock5592]

Yep the polish were their for sure thank God some brave young men as were many others.

[@John_Lyle]

​@@jojox5136I doubt it as Poland was invaded on both the German and the Russian borders.

[@paulwild3676]

@@jojox5136Such a shame that Poland has gone the way of the rest of the surrender monkeys in the EU, now. They love Germany now more than their true friends.

[@CarolWoosey-ck2rg]

Most pilots were British don't ever forget that🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@effedorf]

Thanks for appreciating where the British spirit comes from x

[@duanepipe5277]

64 year old here, not alive when this was happening,every time I watch/listen to these stories,the sense of pride in that generation who gave everything grows and grows

[@BRONWENYOUNG-WHITFORDE-cb8jc]

What hardly ever gets mentioned is that it was women who flew the spitfires to the squadron bases, for the pilots to take over. They were as brave as the men. The pilots were not only British but, had many Commonwealth pilots as well. I had three Australian uncles who died in that battle and another who was hit and crashed. His left arm was hanging by just skin (above the elbow) and he was trapped. He ended up cutting the rest of his arm off and applied a tourniquet by cutting up his uniform and walked ten miles to safety. God bless England and the Commonwealth. God was looking after us all in those thirteen hours.

[@sliderdriver1]

You must very proud! We do owe so much to all the pilots, ground crews, potters, and yes, the ladies who delivered the aircraft(unarmed) and never trained in combat. It's a fact that from time to time these ladies had to dodge German aircraft that obviously thought they had a legitimate target! I'm not so sure however that god saved us, I think the efforts and dedication of those involved are 100% responsible for the outcome. (your right, I'm not religious). Take care friend.

[@patryan1375]

@BRONWENYOUNG-WHI NOT JUST ENGLAND. THE OTHER THREE COUNTRIES THAT MAKE UP THE UK FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE AND WERE AIR CREW ON BOMBERS, LONG BEFORE THE US ENTERED THE WAR. STEVEN COLBERT, THE US LOUDMOUTH, OFTEN SAYS THAT AMERICA SAVED BRITAIN. WHAT A BLOODY IGNORANT COMMENT. IF WE HAD SURRENDERED TO GERMANY, WOULD AMERICA HAVE CROSSED 3,000 MILES OF OCEAN TO LIBERATE MAINLAND EUROPE?

[@bostonblackie9503]

God Bless Britain. I am sure there were Scots, Welsh, and people from Northern Ireland that took part. Not just the English!

[@sliderdriver1]

@@bostonblackie9503 your not wrong! The amount of mixed nations that took part is incredible. The effort from the factories(mainly women) building aircraft and munitions was above and beyond. Back when we were a proud nation and tolerated foreign people in our country because back then they helped us, now they want to bleed us dry...

[@ninamoores]

A man I worked with described how as a 12 year old he’d cycled from his village to an outlying house when he saw a German aircraft come down and the pilot bail. He found the pilot,somewhat shaken sitting in the garden while the lady of the house went in to phone the police and make him cup of tea.About an hour passed before the local policeman turned up on a bicycle to make the arrest.All of this was conducted in a very civilised manner.

[@colindebourg626]

Love that.

[@marcwindle7]

German fighter crashed near a lady's house she did the same the German came back after the war and they married each other.

[@stephendukes6582]

I had three uncles in that conflict and I'm proud of them. My father was in the army and had just escaped from Dunkirk and put on defending the railway bridge at Barmouth in Wales while that battle was going on.

[@DEMONIKMINION]

My G Grandfather (6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment) served in the Battle of France, Dunkirk, Battle of Britain and the Blitz but was lost in the Battle of Singapore. Visiting his grave in Singapore memorial is on my bucket list.

[@stephendukes6582]

My mother's brother was an air gunner in Sunderland flying boats and his aircraft was stationed at Singapore. He was lost somewhere in the Indian Ocean to the Japanese. My father served on D-Day, the Dash to Brussels and then onto Arnhem. He never mentioned what happened in between each event. Too painful I guess.@@DEMONIKMINION

[@gtaylor331]

​Squadron Leader Mohinder Singh Pujji DFC was a great pilot and hero, after spending time in the US after the war, he moved to Gravesend. He wrote to his father back in India, during the war to say how much the British people loved him. Even when lining up for the cinema, they would usher him to the front.

[@carolanderson6933]

There is a great statue to him in Gravesend the town of my birth

[@Pokafalva]

He did not fly in the Battle of Britain...

[@mayajrj]

@@Pokafalva no-one said he did but : Mahinder Singh Pujji, was a Royal Air Force pilot and an Indian Air Force officer during the Second World War. He served with RAF Squadron 43 and 258 in Britain between 1940-1. He was in the RAF at the time of the B,o.B.

[@Pokafalva]

@@mayajrj He did NOT fly in the Battle of Britain with one of the accredited fighter squadrons. Read the following: Embarking for the United Kingdom aboard the troopship Strathallan, arriving in Liverpool on 1 October 1940, Pujji's first posting was on 8 October 1940 to No. 1 RAF Depot in Uxbridge. Within a few days he was posted to No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School RAF at Prestwick in Scotland. From there the first 24 volunteer Indian pilots went on to No. 9 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit RAF at RAF Hullavington. From the first 24 volunteer candidates, 18 including Pujji, successfully completed the course and qualified as Royal Air Force pilots, receiving their RAF wings on 16 April 1941. He only got his 'WIngs' in April 1941! So I suggest you do in-depth research into the Battle before posting. Please, don't try to take me on with regard to matters Battle of Britain. I have been doing research into it for the last 43 years (real research, obtaining information from institutions both her in England and in Germany, and interviewing and corresponding with veterans of both sides, the result of which is 9 books written with one going to a second edition, and various magazine articles[the last one will appear in the September 2023 edition of 'Iron Cross' magazine]). So don't try to smart-arse me with your comments. If you wish, I will give you my name, and you can check out my books on Amazon...

[@dirtbikerman1000]

I'm a self employed welder. Just as lockdown was happening in 2020 I took a job on for the battle of Britain airfield Kenley airfield in London. If you walk around it, I made all of the spitfire cockpit style table legs on the notice boards. I also made the internal steelwork and the stainless steel for the spitfire wing signs. I did the job for the sign company. One of my proud jobs that I did.

[@lulusbackintown1478]

Well done you. Used to live near by and my children went to school there. My son practised his driving there before taking his test. Happy days. I shall look out for your work next time I'm there. Kenley coldest place in Surrey? Brass monkeys in the winter!

[@crashrr2993]

I had a dog called Merlin, named after the engine, and I used to walk him on Kenley airfield twice a day. I know your handiwork very well! I watched a Hurricane fly-over there, and also went up in a glider. What struck me most was that when you flew up to just 1,000’ you could easily see Farnborough, Croydon and Redhill airfields. On the ground everything is so far away, but in the air it’s really close.

[@dirtbikerman1000]

@Crashrr that makes me happy mate. The spitfire table legs are indestructible but the stand up fibreglass wings got vandalised. Those spitfire cockpit table legs were made by my very own hands. They weren't easy to make

[@dirtbikerman1000]

@@lulusbackintown1478 Nice one 👍🏻

[@crashrr2993]

@@dirtbikerman1000 I can honestly say that, in an age where we are constantly bombarded with the lowest, dumbed-down shit quality, it was an uplifting pleasure to discover that some artisans, at least, are upholding higher civic ideals and, more importantly, an appropriate respect for the men and women who gave their time, health and lives for this great nation. 🫡🍻🇬🇧 (Those ignorant vandals had better hope I never catch them!)

[@marymorgan8728]

It was a magnificent achievement which truly was the very beginning of the end of the war. Britain will always be grateful to the RAF and the heroes from all over the world who joined them in the fight for freedom. Those from the Commonwealth and many other countries stood by us when our backs were against the wall, their memory will be honoured forever.

[@davidpryle3935]

I think the Soviets deserve at least an honourable mention. After all, 80% of German casualties were in the east.

[@marymorgan8728]

@@davidpryle3935 You're right, the Soviets paid a terrible price, the war would have been lost without their involvement. I was referring to the people who came from afar to serve in the RAF and had no wish to diminish Soviet involvement. I stand apologetic and corrected if there were any Soviet citizens in the RAF during the Battle of Britain.

[@davidpryle3935]

@@marymorgan8728 You’re Grand. I see you were really talking about the RAF and Battle of Britain, and do have a knowledge of the gigantic, terrible, struggle in the east. I doubt very much were there any Soviet airmen in the RAF, but I couldn’t be sure.

[@raystephens1142]

@@davidpryle3935 indeed, well supplied by the Baltic convoys.

[@bonand007]

Thanks guys for a great reaction to one of the most critical events in our islands of WW2. It was truly make or break for us, and the young RAF pilots 'The Few' are remembered each year to this day.

[@Foxhunter49]

There was a Polish squadron that wasn’t used in action until the Battle of Britain where they proved to be more than capable of doing a lot of damage to the Germans. I was born just after WW2 ended, all around there were bomb sites where the seaside town was bombed with the Germans trying to destroy the radar pylons on the Downland above the town. It has always interested me talking to people who were involved in the war, a friends husband was a fighter commander during the war, he told me that the film, Battle of Britain, was very realistic except that the language was stronger! It was something to see when a plane flew over even into my early teens.

[@SaintPhoenixx]

There's no way you would know this but some of the people speaking in this documentary were/are celebrities in Britain. Tony Benn was a member of parliament and a socialist who stood up for the right people, Nicholas Parsons was an actor, radio and TV presenter, Jimmy Perry was an actor and writer (who wrote Dads Army and many other beloved British sitcoms), Brian Sewell (the intensely posh one) was an actor and art critic. You probably recognise the name Vera Lynn, a national treasure who rose to fame during WW2 as being the nations sweetheart. All are sadly no longer with us (most of them passed in the last ten years), but it's quite weird to think so many of our beloved actors and writers and presenters from the 60s and 70s grew up and witnessed this first hand. It seems obvious and yet it's weird to think about. Makes you think just how many more talented young people could have been rich and famous and beloved who sadly didn't get the chance and never lived long enough to see peacetime.

[@mossygreen2790]

I know! Now the veterans of WW2 are few & far between. It only seems like yesterday that the last british veteran of WW1 died. I can't recall his full name but he was nicknamed Patch ?

[@KeplersDream]

And Arthur White is the older brother of David Jason, I believe.

[@mossygreen2790]

I was trying to recall the last ww1 veteran Harry Patch, (I think?)

[@paultapner2769]

@@mossygreen2790 Harry Patch it was.

[@mossygreen2790]

@@paultapner2769 I remember see him in news , docu's etc. Lived to a ripe old age too. I have an interest in WW 1 due to my grandfather enlisting underage, just a boy. Then my Dad told me about the "pals" recruitment which wiped up entire generations of young men, in the towns, villages, city boroughs & leaving a generation of spinsters too. This was an absolute travesty, as this war happened for no good reason? I remember hearing family members recall a time my grandfather threw his medals away in disgust, which I think was a shame as I would loved to have seen them?

[@pipmaple]

My grandfather was In the RAF during the war and was a quiet man with true grit and my hero.

[@magnolia7277]

My mum said the sky went dark, the battle was fought above where I live, the German pilots used our local church spire as a reference point. Those who can remember say the dog fights were amazing. The film The Battle of Britain is brilliant, I think some of this footage was in the film.

[@clairehealey111]

Hi guys! My mother was born 13 days after this in London. I hope Daniel is ok he seemed to be very effected by this video! Thank you to every soldier past and present English and American for your service and sacrifices. X😻X

[@alimar0604]

I love your respectful commentary. It is a sad fact that once my post-war generation is gone, this history may be lost. My parents' generation fought for the whole world. That should never be forgotten. RIP PHCM ❤🇬🇧

[@larryfroot]

If we had lost the battle of Britain, the US would have had no foothold in Europe to wage war from. In which case Europe would have been fought over by Hitler and Stalin. No matter the winner, just thinking about either outcome makes my blood run cold. The battle of Britain was for so much more than just Britain. It was a battle for the civilisation of Western Europe.

[@tobytaylor2154]

Na, the RN would've stopped it, every war game played out, Germany never got a foothold. Just look at their plans in detail, it was shambolic.

[@orwellboy1958]

The Royal Navy has to be taken into account of course but those ships would have been easy pray for the Luftwaffe.

[@tobytaylor2154]

@@orwellboy1958 it doesn't matter, enough damage would've been done to stop the invasion. Like I said, numerous military war games have played it out, we win everytime. Luftwaffe are useless against submarines, laying mines at night etc. The detailed plans are ridiculous, unpowered barges as landing craft being towed by 1 powered barge. The kreigsmarine wouldn't be able, purely down to strength defend the channel 24/7. You are correct, the luftwaffe would easily sink ships, so would the RAF, coastal command and the fleet air arm. Basic military tactics, in an offensive you want 3/1 in numbers min, this is the other way round. I look at the Bob as the Germans never getting past the 1st line of defence.

[@orwellboy1958]

@@tobytaylor2154 you make some good points, however the in this scenario, the RAF has been defeated, the British submarine fleet is pittifull and the majority of the Royal Navy is scattered across the globe, protecting convoy routes and in the Mediterranean, the fleet Airarm has been stripped of its best pilots for the BoB and is operating swordfish biplanes, the British Army left most of its weapons at Dunkirk. I agree it would have been extremely difficult to cross the English channel but with paratroopers landing close to the coast, not impossible, just as we did at Normandy.

[@tobytaylor2154]

@@orwellboy1958 the raf isn't defeated, 10 group would've been moved south, and you mean fighter command, one part of the raf, plus you forgot to mention coastal comman and the fleet air arm which both have sircraft designed to sink ships. The luftwaffe was on its knees aswell, combat fatigue, aircraft fatigue. Add that to an invasion without the amount of kit reqd and the correct kit, severe lack of shipping, military and logistics. Then add to the equation the air cover is in France and fighters only have a few minutes combat over the SE. Then add to the equation France was still fighting. A lot of equations, ifs, buts and maybes. AND, in less than a yr Germany will invade Russia which is the actual mission and will take a huge amount of everything.

[@jamesharris7341]

FYI the ammunition belts for each of the 8 machine guns in a spitfires wings were good for about 14 seconds of fire and were 9 yards long. Which is where the phrase “gave it the whole 9 yards” comes from.

[@Brian-om2hh]

Yes, you had 5 or so 3 second bursts of fire.......

[@didgerb72]

Also a tailors term. As it is said that it takes 9 yards of material to make a proper suit.

[@andrewlaw]

The Spitfire always gets the props and kudos for the Battle Of Britain but the slower more sturdy Hurricane amounted for more than 60% of downed Luftwaffe aircraft. Also let's not forget the most successful squadron was the 303rd squadron of Polish pilots.

[@ericatkinson9285]

My uncle Fred was a Hurricane pilot always said it was better .

[@kevinwhite981]

That is correct but the hurricane was set to attack the bombers, which were slower and less agile, and the spitfire was up against the 109s, but both aircraft were great.

[@vikingraider1961]

"Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, '*THIS* was their finest hour.' - Winston Churchill.

[@TequilaDave]

My father served at Bletchley Park during the war and it's great to see people not only of a younger generation but even a different country taking an interest in what went on back then so they arent forgotten. "Never in the field of human conflict was so much been owed by so many to so few." Respect to all our armed forces. 🙏 ❤

[@philiptodd6255]

Proud to be British and proud of those airmen who sacrificed their lives for freedom freedoms we take for granted

[@davewarrender2056]

Proud of all who died during that time protecting us

[@marycarver1542]

A great demonstration of why and how the UK once ruled a quarter of the World. The indomitable spirit remains in we British !

[@TheOverlord2010]

You need to know the name Billy Fiske, 4 June 1911 - 17 August 1940) was an American combat fighter pilot and Olympic bobsledder. At the 1928 and 1932 Winter Olympics, Fiske won gold as driver for the US bobsledding team, also acting as the American Olympic flagbearer in 1932. When World War II broke out in 1939, Fiske traveled to the UK and joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, claiming Canadian citizenship in order to be permitted to enlist. He would participate in the Battle of Britain, before being killed in action on 17 August 1940. After Jimmy Davies, Fiske was one of the first American pilots killed in action during World War II. Fiske is buried in St Mary and St Blaise churchyard in Boxgrove, Sussex.[The inscription on his gravestone reads simply: He died for England. The funeral was publicized for propaganda purposes. A memorial stained glass window was dedicated to him on 17 September 2008 at Boxgrove Priory. At the dedication service, a number of former colleagues attended and his green Bentley car was on display. Fiske is listed on the Battle of Britain Monument in London and the Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne. On 4 July 1941, a plaque was unveiled in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral, London. The inscription reads: An American citizen who died that England might live.

[@Cleow33]

How did he participate in the Battle of Britain if he was killed in August 1940?

[@timrussell9869]

@@Cleow33 The BoB lasted for about 9 months. It wasn't a 1 day event.

[@waynerobert7986]

@@Cleow33. The British consider the start of the Battle of Britain to have begun sometime in July 1940 when the Germans were attacking shipping in the English Channel. The Germans consider the start of the Battle to be August 13th 1940 which they called Eagle Day. The Germans didn't stop bombing even after the big events of September 1940 but took to bombing London and other British cities by night. The last big London raid was May 1941. Hitler then attacks the Soviet Union and the big raids end but nuisance raids continued.

[@Ionabrodie69]

Typical yank arrogance.. “ one American died so that England lived.” Don’t make me bloody laugh..🙄🇬🇧

[@georgeredlewgit6891]

Thanks awfully old chap but we already know the Billy Fiske story & are often reminded by it being repeated over & over by proud Americans. Question is though : can you name any other US pilots in the initial Eagle squadron ? It's just one single story from the many hundreds of stories about pilots of many nations who came to Britain for the chance to have a pop at the Germans. Polish pilots hated them with a vengeance and became the highest scoring squadrons in the RAF during the BoB. I don't think BF shot any Gerry's down at all, but thanks go out to him anyway for his support. Do you want to know my Dad's wartime story, or those of my many Uncles who fought Nazis, Italians and Japs across the world ? No ? I didn't think you would.

[@grahamstubbs4962]

That was what is technically known as a bloody close-run thing.

[@archer2733]

you can't imagine the bravery, you have to be eternally grateful

[@Anglo_Saxon1]

I love these 2 boys.Thanks for taking a genuine interest in our SHARED history lads!

[@markprior2278]

Thanks for your respectful reaction to this topic guys. To anyone who visits the south east of England, i implore you to visit the Battle of Britain museum in Hawkinge, Kent. It is an incredible place filled with war memorabilia and stories about the Battle of Britain.

[@Matty_UK]

My Nan and her sister survived this. They were just kids at the time. Before they were evacuated to the countryside they would continue on as normal in the day and sleep in self made bomb shelters that they had dug in their own back gardens at night. Dig a hole and line it with tin and wood. They wouldn't have done much had a bomb dropped on them, but it gave them some feeling of safety at least. One day my Nan went out to play with her best friend as normal. At the end of the day they said goodbye see you tomorrow and then went home and took cover for the night. A lot of bombs dropped that night. The next day my Nan got up and went round to her friend's house to see if she was coming out to play. When she got there she saw her best friend's house had been bombed. She called out her name and searched for her and that's when she found her best friends leg. That's all she found, her leg. She knew it was hers as she had the same shoes and socks on as the day before. And then her brother who served was killed in action over in France. He was shot in the back by the Nazis by an MG nest. Then my Nan and sister were evacuated to the countryside where they remained for life. They lived a long happy life after that. My Nan was Married for 70yrs and had 1 child and 9 grandkids, a devoted and brilliant grandparent. Then in her late 80s into her 90s she developed dementia and it brought what happened in WW2 flooding back. She thought the Nazis had returned and were out to get her via poison gas and bombs. She had 6yrs of that. Eventually she died peacefully in her sleep. She fought it through to the end. An amazing strong woman.

[@emmsue1053]

💜

[@larryfroot]

"First Light" by the Battle of Britain pilot Geoffery Wellum is an incredible read. He was the youngest Spitfire pilot in the months-long battle that culminated in that one fateful day.

[@mpainter22]

I wholeheartedly concur

[@Brian-om2hh]

I second that. It's a terrific read, as is Gun Button to Fire, by Tom Neil, who flew with 249 Squadron RAF....... Aged just 19, he downed 13 enemy aircraft.....

[@gloriagloria716]

Most summers, when there is an air show going on in south east UK, a restored Hurricane bomber and a few spitfires fly over our area. You can tell when they are coming from the sound of the engines. We always go outside, very excited, to wave, and remember what the RAF did for us.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

Likewise with us. At our local airshow each August when the BBMF (Battle of Britain Memorial Flight) arrive, they hold off until its their turn over our house. The sound of 6 merlin engines roaring over the house (1 "Hurri", 1"spit" and 4 on the "Lanc") together with the impressive sight of the Lanc, banking at low level in the sunshine is an annual event we all wait for. Even my kids when they were young and didn't understand what was going on BUZZED with excitment at the spectacle!!!

[@magdahearne497]

The sound of a Lancaster bomber flying overhead always sends tingles down my spine, there really is nothing quite like it!

[@markcollier765]

My grandad, who I never had the privilege to meet, was wounded, sent home and insisted on returning to support his platoon (Sherwood foresters), was sent to Tunisia and then shot dead by a sniper. This was my mums dad, her mother had died from cancer not long before so she raised 2 younger sisters and a brother at the age of 14. Our generation is very lucky that we may not know that sort of sorrow or hardship in this county (members of the armed forces obviously might sadly). I hope to one day visit my granddads grave in Tunisia and pay my respects and thanks, I can’t imagine what those soldiers went through. I appreciate you’re watching these things and your efforts to learn more , thank you

[@janebeard3411]

World At War boys. Probably the greatest series of documentaries ever shown. They were still finding UXB's when I was a teenager in the 70 's.

[@evorock]

I still watch that series even now, i've seen it so many times, it's amazing. THE BEST war documentary series BAR NONE Have you seen Timeghost. A you tube channel well worth checking out

[@kumasenlac5504]

On average, one farm worker per year is killed by _WW1_ ordnance in Flanders.

[@janebeard3411]

@@evorock another good one is the Price of Empire, tells you about the smaller situations going on like in Ethiopia.

[@paularyan4604]

We had to vacate twice in the 70s for uncovered bomb from the war

[@clintbadlam4157]

In about 99 I worked on the construction of Westquay shopping centre in Southampton. When I had my induction (towards the end of the bulld) they had already found 3 or 4 bombs! 🙉💥 Luckily I was working high up off the roof and not on the ground 😂

[@thoughtful_criticiser]

My mother lived through all of this in England. She was young on the 15th September 1940, a 12 year old school girl. The house she was living in, showed the scars of the battle. The lounge was hit by an incendiary bomb, the bricks above the bay window blackened and scorched. My grandmother and mother were safe in the Anderson Shelter in the rear garden. It was the home I grew up in and the shelter was still there. I had my first kiss and other experiences in it, out of sight of prying eyes. Had my grandmother and grandfather opted for a Morrison Shelter, my grandmother and mother would not not have survived the hit from the incendiary bomb. She never spoke in great detail about the battle of Britain except about the night an ammunition train was hit. It burned and exploded for 7 days, shattering windows and wrecking. Meanwhile my father was in North Africa manning a Bren Gun in a Universal Carrier.

[@freethinker--]

This is why Britain supports Ukraine 100%. History repeats itself. 🇺🇦🇬🇧

[@george-ev1dq]

Read a history book , Ukraine fought for the Nazis during WW2 and was responsible for the extermination of practically all UkraInian Jews in the country, then the cowards changed sides when the Russians were pushing the Germans back.

[@russetmantle1]

I was about to say exactly this. Thanks for getting there before me. It's really disturbing to see so many people say "oh...Ukraine can't possibly win, so they should seek peace", when it's quite obvious Russia never honours agreements. The Russian leadership has made it quite clear its aim is to destroy Ukraine so it isn't an independent country any more. Ukraine is fighting for survival like our ancestors did in 1940. We need to have their back.

[@waynerobert7986]

It's been really heartening to see you two Americans paying respect to our people. I'm a Londoner born a few years after WW2. As I grew up and took in my surroundings. We still had a lot of bomb damage. Whole areas of wasteland. Once I started to understand our own history. It was mind blowing to me as a kid. I was talking just a couple of days ago to my Mother and Father in Law who are both 90. They were 7 years old during the Battle and have memories of London at the time. Btw. The shrapnel that the kids collected was from our Anti Aircraft guns. My parents too. They had it tough in the wartime. The older generation and my generation. We had a lot of national pride for our people but also to the American boys that came over with the build up of the US 8th Airforce. Your people helped our people deliver the payback to Germany and at great loss of life. Therefore. The respect is a two way thing. Thanks guys. I really enjoyed your take on our history.

[@robertlangley1664]

So proud of my country and the people who took so much, we stood strong to fight another day like we have done over the centuries

[@mrh678]

This was the pinnacle of the Nazi air campaign. Just remember these air raids and attacks by the Luftwaffe had been going on daily for months while the Germans massed troops, ships, tanks, paratrooper and artillery as little as 21 miles away in France. They believed that the RAF was on its last legs and this day in September was Hitler's and Herman Goring's last blow to decimate the RAF preceding operation Sealion (the German invasion of Britain). They were stunned by the response of how strong the RAF still was. After this day, the invasion got cancelled and Hitler then looked East towards Russia instead. Because without air superiority the invasion would fail. By the way, a lot of the footage is from the Film The Battle of Britain. An amazing classic, and very accurate depiction of events that occurred. This is when the famous poster was made....Keep calm and carry on.

[@kaywhy245]

German Air campaign i think.

[@dannywachowski5880]

Thank you for your respectful and appreciative reaction to this historical event. Now you know why Britain is 'Great'

[@viccijo1]

My dad was 11 days old, living in the East End of London. His dad had passed away so his mother had to get him and his 5 brothers and sisters into the bomb shelter. My mum and dad tell me stories of being little kids and meeting up with friends to play in the ‘bomb debris’, which their young minds saw as a cool place to play, without the full understanding of what bomb debris really was. Those generations were made of strong stuff and thank God for them. ❤

[@Alexander..........]

@viccijo1 Clydebank was heavely bombed during WW11, the Germans wanted to bomb the shipyards in Clydebank

[@mariahoulihan9483]

brave woman.

[@bomma2694]

As an englishman i got chills. I have heard the stories of September 15th many times but it still hits home!

[@andyr226]

Deary me. Not again, it's in the name. The Battle of Britain, not the Battle of England.

[@bomma2694]

@@andyr226 What on god's green earth are you on about? I said "as an Englishman". Your comment shows you complete lack of common sense and proves you can't see past the end of your nose. 🤡

[@georgeknox1822]

I owe my freedom to every single one of these incredibly brave men.. hero’s on every single level

[@sueflynn9886]

Excellent, respectful reaction to the Battle of Britain, I am not sure if you have reacted to the evacuation of Dunkirk? Another epic episode of WW11 when the vast majority of the British Army and some French soldiers were trapped on the beach of Dunkirk. Between 26 May and 4 June 1940 338,000 soldiers were rescued from the beach in an amazing operation involving 861 vessels, about 850 were little civilian boats - pleasure boats, private yachts and launches were used with shallow drafts so they could get close to the shore. It was amazing so many were rescued hence we still talk about the Dunkirk spirit today. Incredible tale of heroism and bravery, unfortunately 70,000 troops and many tonnes of equipment were left on the beach but it enabled Britain and our allies to continue fighting. I haven’t got a specific video to recommend but I am sure there are many. ❤️🇬🇧

[@stephenbuttriss5396]

"Dunkerque", a celebrated defeat.

[@samsprrr3548]

Please do look at the rescue .

[@mayajrj]

@@stephenbuttriss5396 celebrated because no-one thought we'd try it .

[@popeye5989]

Great to see you guys looking in to these sort of videos. Please please please have a look at one of Britain's most extraordinary and famous raids in Germany-"the Dam busters"- the amount of bravery and inginuity in this attack was incredible, I think you would be fascinated learning all about the men and their "bouncing bombs"!

[@marynorth7988]

My home back in the days was in a triangle of air bases !! Being a toddler ..got used to the noise of these wonderful pilots setting off to God knows what ! Thank God for your pilots who stood by us ! God bless all your veterans ...humble thanks to each and all those who suffered loss . Thank you !!

[@malcolmspence2869]

I always have and always will be in awe of those, kids often times, who went into the fray. It defines courage. True heroism.

[@juliadoherty83]

We have an old black and white photo of a downed Lancaster bomber, crashed very elegantly near Oxford. The pilot avoided a main road, putting down in a field, with her nose poking through the hedge. The reason why we have this picture is because looking proud as punch at his handiwork is my Dad. He genuinely looks as if he's posing for the paparazzi. Best picture ever.

[@gordonsmith8899]

You might already know this but not all of the young pilots who fought in the battle were British, Poles, Czechs, Frenchmen, Canadians and US citizens were among the men from other countries who took part in that important event.

[@kumasenlac5504]

The Poles were truly formidable - having fought the Luftwaffe above their own country they had a score to settle.

[@generichuman2044]

Poland, a country that has been involved in so much tragedy that it's people are born with iron wills. Truly a wonderful nation

[@waynerobert7986]

65% of the RAF pilots were British born but thank God for those from the Commonwealth and Poland and Czechoslovakia. Let's not forget the US Eagle Sqn too. Some joined the USAAF when USA entered the war but some remained in the RAF. Some Free French too. Some Belgians, Dutch. It was a good team.

[@yarnybart5911]

​@@waynerobert7986Sonin September 1949, 65% of Europe's airmen still fighting the Nazis were British. 65% of an entire continent.

[@waynerobert7986]

@@yarnybart5911. In September 1940. You made a typo. 2 out of 3 RAF pilots in the Battle of Britain were British born. The other 1 in 3 came from the Commonwealth or from other countries occupied by the Germans. Easy enough to understand right?

[@petrinadendy6395]

The man in the red sweater, called Nicholas Parsons, an eye witness, fist went to work in a ship yard, building ships and then went on to be an actor and star of radio. He hosted a comedy panel show for many years until quite recently when he passed away in his 90s

[@MrCloe333]

Great reaction guys. One of the best documentaries ever made about the Battle Of Britain. Some of the aerial shots were from the movie "The Battle Of Britain {1969}". My favourite war movie and also one of the best aerial war movies ever made. :)

[@margaretreid2153]

Fantastic movie The Battle of Britain, music also awesome, written played by Ron Goodwyn and his Orchestra

[@MrCloe333]

@@margaretreid2153 Agree Margaret, the rousing Ron Goodwin soundtrack adds to greatness of the movie. Also one of my fave soundtracks. It's even played by the British marching bands.

[@stuartannetts300]

​@@donalkinsella4380 Who didn't?

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

My young Irish mother, not long over and 17 years old, was in service in Surrey, out in the garden watching, and was frightened to death when her boss screamed at her not touch the piece of shrapnel she had seen on the ground and was gong to pick up. not realising how extremely hot it would have been. She had some good war stories God rest her soul.

[@kingspeechless1607]

A "conker" if you don't know the word is the popular British name for the large brown nut of the Horse Chestnut tree. It was common to collect them to play conkers with them (they aren't edible for humans). You bore a hole through them, push a string through and take turns to swing them at someone else's conker. The conker that broke first and came off the string was the loser; there was various tricks for hardening them using methods like soaking in vinegar or putting them in the oven for a while. The aim was to get a champion conker; if you had a 'sixer' for instance (six wins) and beat someone else's 'fiver' then yours became an 'eleven.' They were simpler times!

[@petehall889]

I played conkers many times at school and with friends. It was great fun, but it's banned now in schools because little Johnny might get a nasty bruised knuckle and cry. Stop wrapping our kids in cotton wool and let them be kids, like in my days in the '50s.

[@alisonrodger3360]

There's a plaque nailed to an old tree in the field up from my house. It commemorates a Scottish Pilot & Polish Spitfire trainee pilot who crashed during a training flight out of Grangemouth Aerodrome. I always stop for a moment of thanks. My great Uncle Lex (91) remembers seeing the Spitfires & Hurricanes flying up the Forth.

[@timholder6825]

Stalin, when asked what the allied powers had given towards the victory, he replied, "Russia gave blood, America gave money, Britain gave time."

[@chrisnorman1902]

It should have been 'America made money' 😂

[@jonathanparry7824]

Britain also gave money, ww2 was basically a big transfer of wealth between Britain and America, because we paid for our supplies and russias

[@timholder6825]

@@jonathanparry7824 I was talking about Stalin's quote. America supplied Britain and Russia. We had to pay it back, hamstringing the British economy for decades. Russia welched. We supplied the Russians too and they welched on that one as well. Between 39 and 41, whilst we were fighting the Nazis, Russia according to the terms of the Nazi/Soviet Pact, was supplying them with raw materials and resources that were turned against us.......and then later the Russians themselves. My own opinion is the worst thing to ever happen to international socialism (and it's beautiful, altruistic ideals) was for the Russians to get hold of it. They tainted it and spoiled it for everyone else. Russia and Russians were not worthy of socialism, they ruined it. French had their chance....they fucked it up. Russia had their chance.....they fucked it up. Stalin was to socialism what Henry VIII was to the reformation in England.

[@timholder6825]

@@chrisnorman1902 yeah, agreed, they came out of both world wars richer and more powerful. Stood on the sidelines for years making money and their country never knew the face of war. And never has, that's why there's so many "hawks" in the US. It's never been their cities left in ruins or their children dying. They've never had to rebuild. Their children are dying at the hands of their own people, but they do nothing about that. Guns are more important to them than people's lives.

[@the_ejj]

@@jonathanparry7824 since he failed to take britian he had to station a metric shit ton on men and equipment in and around france to defend vs pushing everything into russia, who knows maybe with 2x the forces they might have taken all of russia before winter hit, so in that sense britians greatest "gift" was the time

[@777petew]

It must have been scary for the Brits. I bought a Winston Churchill Speeches cd and listened to them one dark night in my bed. I thought to myself if I was there listening in 1940, I would have been scared sh!tless, yet the mantra was to persevere. He said we will only give in to them when we're lying prostrate and choking on our own blood. He was right because we were fighting evil itself.

[@isabelstokes4042]

I have watched that documentary over and over again and I never get tired of it. It's great to know that these guys feel the same.

[@gillianstapleton7741]

The important thing to remember, is that we know how it turned out, that Britain went on to victory - they had no idea at the time how it would be, but they fought anyway against immense odds. My dad was in a reserved occupation, but was in the Home Guard in 1940. I once asked him what his unit would have done if the Germans had invaded. He simply said, "We knew what we had to do - fight to the death".

[@H4CK61]

My mother was bombed out twice in London and my wifes grandfather was killed in the docks when they were bombed. So many civilians died from the bombing that we all know some who was killed. Londoners were and are as hard as nails and im proud to be one.

[@martinp8174]

I fully admit that you "southern nancys " are as hard as nails, us northerners are the hammers !!!!!

[@davewarrender2056]

My mum told me about how bad things were in Sheffield. The bombers were trying to take out our rail and steel. Also I served in the Raf as security, and was so proud of those who fought on land and in the air during 1940

[@ralphraffles1394]

My mother was in Belfast during one of the heaviest raids on a British city. Amazingly she said that she walked through the rubble to get to work the next morning. Later in the war she was secretary to the base commander of the largest US airfield outside Belfast. She told me young American pilots were being lost ferrying planes across to England. That stopped when they caught IRA men, who were putting sugar in the planes’ fuel tanks.

[@lotuselise4432]

Issue is the politicians and people like Khan have sold us out. My Mother served in 305 Squadron, Father in the Navy, invasion of Italy, Africa, D Day and the Arctic convoys.

[@mossygreen2790]

Yes Londoners suffered the "Blitz", being bombed, nearly every night for months on end ! I think it lasted for well over a year, or more ?

[@MichaelHill-we7vt]

Thank you gentlemen, your interest and your willingness to learn do you credit, as does your obvious respect and appreciation of the significance and importance of the events you are witnessing...keep up the good work and I tip my metaphorical hat to you both! All the very best !

[@vaudevillian7]

Arthur White who’s interviewed in this is the brother of ‘Del Boy’ in Only Fools and Horses, when he refers to his brother that’s who he means

[@ked7426]

I thought as much, but the name diverted me, very interesting.

[@FrancisAdam-nf4kj]

As an Englishman who wasn’t born until 20yrs after the war ended I was brought up on war stories the respect I have for those men is immense and we all feel a tremendous sense of pride for what those men did hero’s one and all

[@Vickytin]

That is one of the reasons I admire and respect the British armed forces and the RAF. They were alone and they fought. Fought hard for their country, for freedom, for their people. No wonder they were heroes up and down the British airspace. What an honour to defend your country and the ones who pay the ultimate sacrifice must never be forgotten. What a great nation you Are! Never forget that. You are a great nation! Thank you for the respectful comments from these vets. Thank you for your service 🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@DEATHSxNEMASIS]

And not only that we fought Germany everywhere....before America joined the war we had stalled Germany in their crusade to try and gain power and resources across different part of the world to the point Germany was expending more resources than they were making thanks to us bits being stubborn bastard, without us being that way the Atlantic Wall would have probably been fully built and we'd all be speaking German in Britain

[@VC-gt8fv]

I think you might be over estimating the shock of this for the children. One thing this documentary doesn’t really make clear is that this was a defining day in a months long battle. This was happening fairly often just not in so many numbers all at once. The battle itself lasted around 9 months the kids knew what was happening.

[@SpudicusMaximus1]

My dad was 12 in south east england. He was in an anderson shelter in the back garden and a spitfire came down in their orchard. The engine went 35 feet into the ground, still there, set fire to the orchard and cooked all the fruit, and the unused amunition was going off in the fire in all directions. He said it felt like the shelter had jumped out the ground and back into its hole lol

[@magnolia7277]

Great info. Thank you.

[@jimharrison748]

God bless that generation, they were built different and more recent ones could learn a lot from them!

[@lunawalsh2697]

My dad was born just 6 weeks after this, it's a sobering thought to think about the fact I'm even here at all, we owe so much to all of the people who got us through that time, civil and army.

[@lynnjones2505]

like churchill said "never have so few given so much for so many .....AMEN

[@davidmontgomery9846]

The film The Battle Of Britain is a superb dramatisation of that summer .It also shows just how many countries the allies pilots came from .

[@neilbadger4262]

I think a few RAF pilots may have said in interview, if you want to know what the Battle of Britain was like, watch the Battle of Britain 😄 I sometimes wish we had more military remembrance things around the country so we all had somewhere we could go. London does have the Senitaf but London has pretty much everything.

[@rickybuhl3176]

Edit: I love the British ability to remove the glory and make the 'war is hell' statement, just so. Honestly, eventually defending your borders may bring a solidarity that could otherwise be, shall we say scarce.. It's what has, imo, brought much of Europe together - as divided as we may be. A shared respect - kinda like how I imagine my Grandad thinking back then - 'he may support City instead of United, he might vote Red instead of Blue (or vice versa) - but he'll defend his home, I'll defend my family and damnit we'll protect ours! I'm Norwegian, he's Polish - England is where we make our last stand'. England became the [Anglo-Saxon] Wales of Europe, for a time. Nearly everyone was assimilated or herded onto the island.

[@phunny12000]

Norwegian people made a massive contribution to saving the world They stopped the progress of the naxi regime in nuclear bombs And that story truly is incredible

[@phunny12000]

Operation gunnerside

[@alisonrodger3360]

As depicted in 'The Heroes of Telemark'?

[@phunny12000]

A lot of people don't know it's real Incredible

[@rickybuhl3176]

@@alisonrodger3360 A "Christmas Movie" from before the Die Hard era..

[@eamonnr8388]

My Dad died earlier this year aged 90. He loved taking shrapnel to school to show off to his friends. In the early ,50's he was part of the British occupying force in W.Germany. He became friends with a German family .They wrote to his mom saying what a credit he was to her. I was living with him when he cried at Russia invading Ukraine. The bombings brought back memories from childhood.

[@carolinejones8750]

My grandfather was a spitfire mechanic he kept those beauties in the skies. I have a rear wheel of a spitfire thats was in the battle of Britain. Its one of my most prized possessions along with a scale model he made from scrap spitfires inc original paint. He made it for my mums birthday. I'm incredibly proud of my grandfather and all the men women and children who kept us free. Shame we're not that type of people anymore. I really enjoyed your video, thankyou. The film battle of Britain is amazing if you want to follow it up. Thanks boys xxxx

[@DFMSelfprotection]

Awesome choice and a good review. We should remember that besides our brave boys, there were many pilots from across the Commonwealth, Europe and the free world (US included) who were involved in this epic fight. I salute all their memories... God bless them all.

[@MsPaulathomas]

My father found out his future wife could run faster than him when bullets were landing on the street on either side of them on the way home from an early date in 1940 in north London. Such are the little stories of this time.

[@coot1925]

There's a few people interviewed in this video that are interesting. Dame Vera Lyn was a famous singer they called the darling of the British armed forces. She was famous for the song "we'll meet again" and "there'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of dover". Tony benn went on to be a member of parliament. Nicolas Parsons went on to be a TV show host, broadcaster and TV personality.

[@daveotter7942]

Arthur White was a well known actor and the older brother of David Jason of Only Fools and Horses fame.

[@mossygreen2790]

And Jimmy Perry, co-wrote "Dad's Army" & that was based on his WWII experiences. I believe he based the character of private Pike on himself, = "stupid boy" ? He was barely 16 years old when he joined the "Home Guard", as he was too young to enlist in the armed forces.

[@stephenbuttriss5396]

"Sir" Anthony Wedgewood Benn not only became a member of parliament, he also became a leading Trotskyite in UK.

[@neilbadger4262]

Random trivia: The "Bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover" was written by two guys living in New York, USA, and bluebirds are not an indigenous species to anywhere in the UK. So the only way bluebirds would ever be flying over the white cliffs of Dover would be if they were shipped across 🤣

[@mossygreen2790]

@@neilbadger4262 I always wondered how & why Bluebirds came to be "linked" to the White cliffs of Dover? I wondered if it had anything to do with American service men leaving "the theatre of war" on the continent (France, Belgium, etc) ? They would cross the channel, sailing into the straits of Dover to a safer harbour, without all the "action", etc & so it also signify the beginning of their long journey home to the USA? Just wondered?

[@jameslewis2635]

A story I was told is that in the battle of France Churchill asked what forces were left available in reserve. As soon as he received the answer that there were no reserves he knew that France was lost. During the battle of Britain when he was told that there were no reserve fighters his face turned as white as a sheet.

[@giovanniscavetta9080]

Watched so many of your videos guys, and your reactions are by far the best. Whether you're laughing or serious you're always genuine and engaging.

[@raythomas4812]

I went past Biggin Hill airpot on the bus today and saw a spitfire ( or another war plane ) take off - you can't help but think, and does make you feel quite emotive. I run past Chiselhurst caves - had no idea that it was used as a air raid shelter

[@John-ob7dh]

I went up in a 1944 spit from there 2 years ago .I had the stick for 5 mins .A memory never to be forgotten .If you know the lay out ( I do now ) you can get all the way down to the fence where they take off and land.