THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN (1969) | The Spitfire Squadron Defends Britain | MGM

[@nickcox2435]

The models used in this film were all made by a chap called Mick Charles who owned a ran a model shop in south London until it closed five or so years ago.

[@ChrisCrossClash]

You mean the Stuka's? they were the only models used for the film, the rest were all real aircraft.

[@gdwlaw5549]

The shop was in Frimley Green,Surrey. A very large model of the Henkel 111 could be seen in the window shop front until the early 80’s. As a teenager we would drive past quite often on the way to see our grandparents in Deepcut. We did stop to take a look on a number of occasions.

[@johnmorris7815]

Yep , I used to be a regular there.

[@gdwlaw5549]

@@johnmorris7815 interesting. I imagine the shop is now closed. It was a very regular drive for our family from The Solent to Deepcut to visit our grandparents.

[@johnmorris7815]

@@gdwlaw5549 I think so, Mick’s son took over for a time but I guess it closed a few years back.

[@alantunbridge8919]

I was living in Luton at the time this film was made. Most of the aircraft flew from Duxford , but I was surprised to see a Spitfire fly over so I went to the airport & saw it plus one other I think put away in Hunting’s old flight shed,but my biggest surprise was when the aerial filming aircraft turned up. It was a B25 painted in very garish colours. The irony of this was that it was older than the Messerschmidt’s & Heinkel’s taking part which were Spanish license built & fitted with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. that can be seen by the exhaust coming out of the top of the engine cowling instead of the bottom. I hope this is of some interest. I think I still have a couple of photographs I took at the time.

[@robharris8844U]

Most of the sky combat was actually filmed in Spain as better weather conditions.The more limited scenes actually over Dover England were then inserted , such as the cliffs.Even in 1968-69 there were limitations in the number of flyable spitfires left - hence the Spanish airforce collection was useful.

[@alantunbridge8919]

@@robharris8844U The filming in Spain would explain the German aircraft not being seen in England ,plus the availability of appropriate aircraft.

[@robharris8844U]

@@alantunbridge8919 Yes, the German planes were from Spain ( left over from the help they gave Franco possibly) Fantastic job done on the scenes though, when you realise CGi did not exist, I think the special effect of the day was painted planes on glass to make the numbers in formation look larger.

[@raypurchase801]

The B25 camera plane was also used for "633 Squadron". It can be glimpsed in that movie, supposedly being used as the aircraft being used to carry George Chikiris back to Norway.

[@alantunbridge8919]

@@raypurchase801 The mention of 633 Squqdron also brings back memories. During my apprenticeship at Hunting Aircraft ,in probably 1964, when I was working in the Stress Office I heard a noise & looking up I saw a Mosquto at low level heading above the then airport approach road closely followed by two more . Rushing to the window I saw the last one do a barrel roll over the airfield & disappear in the general direction of Hatfield. My father worked at DH in WW2 buiding them (Percival,later Hunting Aircraft also built them) & I still have a toolbox he made incorporating some Mosquito plywood.

[@MysteriousMarsupial]

Imagine acting with just the eyes and conveying that kind of intensity. No CGI in existance can match these classics.

[@michaelwhalen2442]

He's gonna need a bigger Spitfire...

[@christopherbrowne736]

A beautifully crafted film. Authentic, accurate and anointed. The contemporary films don’t even get close. I salute these brave young men.

[@MarkHarrison733]

They died for nothing.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

This awful film was a huge flop.

[@raypurchase801]

@@JamesRichards-mj9kw Expressing your hatred like this suggests you'd prefer the OTHER side to have won.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

@@raypurchase801 We should have allied with Germany against the real threat.

[@johnord684]

@@JamesRichards-mj9kw wow what a fool you are.

[@nemosis9449]

The scene where the Luftwaffe bombers flying up the Thames towards London i think i was about 9 when my dad, an ex RN veteran just got up and walked thru the front door (i followed) and stood looking up east towards Woolwich in the east when about 40-50 planes appeared out of the sky heading towards the city .The rumble of engines i hadn't noticed but he had. I remember the noise and the people running out of there houses to see what the fuss was about as my mum ( who lived thru the blitz) took one look and said F**k this and ran back inside.

[@GTX1123]

Ha! Amazing. I had a similar experience when I was 7 in Hawaii when "Tora Tora Tora" was filmed. I walked out the front door to the whine of radial engines. I looked out over the jungle and there was a squadron of Zeros flying low. They were the radio controlled mockups that were around 3/4ths the size of the real Zeros, but to a 7 yr old they looked and sounded real. I remember that like it was yesterday.

[@hc3932]

I love the scene with Edward Fox bailing out and landing in the greenhouse, the young boy is so proud to offer that cigarette. “Thanks awfully old chap”

[@raypurchase801]

This looks like it was must've been based on an actual incident, but I can't find any reference in the books I've read.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

@@raypurchase801 It is often said to be the depiction of the actions of RAF Sgt Pilot Ray Holmes of 504 sqd Fighter Command on 15th September 1940.

[@raypurchase801]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 THANKS! I'm also curious about the scene where Robert Shaw's squadron leader speaks to the corporal with the German prisoners. "Give 'em a bloody shovel". Like most of the scenes in the movie, it's probably based on an actual incident.

[@josephstevens9888]

One of my favorite scenes in the movie!

[@raypurchase801]

@@josephstevens9888 "You can teach monkeys to fly better than that!"

[@chriscarter5720]

IMO the finest aerial combat scenes in any movie ever. And real aircraft; no CGI (Except for the burning 109) and models used only when that type didn't exist (eg JU87) or they wanted to show a crash.

[@barniem3148]

It's not even conventional CGI, think they had to draw the special effects onto the negative film one frame at a time? Something like that - hours and hours of work. CGI wasn't used in movies until much later during the mid 70's onwards and "perfected" with Jurassic Park (1993), which is the digital motion capture type CGI we have today.

[@oldgoat142]

@@barniem3148 They did have to draw it out. By hand. The technology to do it mechanically didn't exist back then so they had to draw it out during editing. Cartoonists were hired to do the job since they knew how to do it and all cartoons were hand drawn cell-by-cell back in those days.

[@alanjm1234]

No CGI because there weren't really any computers.

[@JohnyG29]

​@garyeastmentDunkirk's aerial bits are rubbish (if you are talking about the recent film).

[@johnpirie4804]

@@alanjm1234 There were, but they were the size of houses and were only suitable for complex mathematics and financial applications.

[@gec-o2167]

The flying sequences using authentic aircraft in this film are still awesome.

[@mscommerce]

This movie deserves a fresh, digitally cleaned up print, and a major theatrical re-release.

[@raypurchase801]

Wouldn't be allowed a general release today. Too many w height people. No subplot about transgender aircrew seeking acceptance in a homophobic environment.

[@MarkHarrison733]

@@raypurchase801 People were not interested in this racist film in 1969.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

@@raypurchase801 The film flopped in 1969.

[@raypurchase801]

@@JamesRichards-mj9kw No. The film was a success, but it had gone over budget and it took a couple more decades to claw back the expenditure. Nothing unusual in that.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

@@raypurchase801 It was a massive flop all over the world, losing $10 million and bankrupting the terrorist supporter Saltzman.

[@rcaso9561]

I happened to visit the Oberschleissheim branch of the Deutsches Mus yrs ago (2001?) which is a former Luftwaffe airfield. It features a restoration center and from the observation deck, I could see what looked like an He-111 fuselage being restored. I thought it had to be one from the movie. I conned my way into the area and was given an impromptu tour by a super nice resto guy there and he confirmed it was one of planes used in the BOB movie - a CASA used by the Spanish AF. Since it's my favorite movie, it was a life experience for me to make such a connection.

[@Deevo037]

That and Tora Tora Tora were brilliant movies, neither got the commercial appreciation they deserved.

[@bobdylan7120]

Also "Midway" (minus the Charlton Heston scenes).

[@Clipgatherer]

+Deevo037. And like “The Longest Day” it didn’t need big-name actors in every part to sell the picture. The flying sequences should have been sufficient.

[@West_Coast_Mainline]

2:54 dang, that’s probably my favorite scene

[@teto85]

My wife's grand dad was one of the few. Thank you Archie. You saved the world. The Spitfires took on the fighter escorts and the Hurricanes rook on the bomber. Or at least that's how it was supposed to go.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

It did, for the most part, unless Spitfires weren't available for top cover.

[@dooniskea]

The sound design in these sequences is fantastic.

[@excelgazialimuhiddinhacibekir]

A timeless classic among all WW II air battle movies. I believe this movie proved very inspirational for the making of "Dunkirk" by Christopher Nolan in 2017 (if I am not mistaken).

[@benlewis2475]

The spitfires sequences were well done. Nice touch with Michael Caine as the controller.

[@juliocesarpereira4325]

I was thinking exactly that while watching it.

[@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401]

Dunkirk is better original version in 1958

[@BedtimeStoriesChannel]

@@benlewis2475 Michael Caine was the Squadron Leader

[@benlewis2475]

@@BedtimeStoriesChannel I know. But I was referring to the film Dunkirk where he was the voice of the controller.

[@johnholt890]

The Film will never be real flying sequences like these ever again.

[@melvinbennett444]

Well they weren't real...,As there weren't any ME-109's around to make them real. And they used 2 HE-111's and just kept showing the same 2 from different angles. duh

[@benlewis2475]

One of the best airborne combat scenes ever made. Couldn’t make it today

[@thethirdman225]

What makes you say that?

[@minerran]

Now they often don't even need real hardware. Computer work is very realistic. Star Wars certainly was not filmed in space, was it!

[@thethirdman225]

@@minerran Agreed, as long as they don't make a Spitfire fly like an F-16.

[@richardjakobek7477]

Marvellous stuff, and no CGI.

[@melvinbennett444]

Well correct no CGI.....but just the same two He-111's being attacked, exploded, crashing from different angles. Camera games instead of CGi

[@MajSolo]

so well done movie it holds up today

[@宮内紳雄]

当時スペイン空軍にあったハインケルと メッサーシュミット(ライセンス生産機)を 残らず調達して当時のカラーリングに しました。さすがにスピットファイアと ホーカーハリケーンは動態保存の良い機体が 沢山あってこの映画は出来上がりました。 ここまで細部に渡り見せてくれた映画は 他にはありませんわ❤

[@paullacey2999]

Real film!No cgi.....

[@gusm2752]

Love this movie. In my collection 👍

[@briancharters8720]

The SOUND of those SPITFIRES… GOOSE BUMPS!!! Ear candy!

[@cloudhop]

Imagine filming those scenes ? Brilliant director

[@raypurchase801]

FUN FACT: Only two Heinkels were brought over to England, to be filmed alongside Spitfires and Hurricanes. The "wide" shots of massed Heinkels were filmed above Spain. The sky looks pretty-much the same everywhere. Cleverly interspersing the shots of two Heinkels with the massed formation makes it look like all the shots were filmed in the same place on the same day.

[@asicdathens]

Fun Fact: The "Henkels" from Spain had Rolls Royce Merlin engines

[@douglaslorin739]

​@@asicdathensNearly all the full sized aircraft, both British and German/Spanish were powered by Merlin V12s.

[@melvinbennett444]

Yea it's all camera tricks rather than what they would use today,,,,cgi.

[@K.Straughan]

Quint survived and went on to hunt sharks for a living.

[@melvinbennett444]

Until he ran into the other sharks.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

but he delivered.... "the bomb".

[@craigs71]

I remember many moons ago (the late 70's I think) going to an airshow at RAF Finningly and seeing one of the Heinkel cockpits they used in this movie.

[@jules2545]

Keith Park, now there was a leader.

[@raypurchase801]

Agreed. Definiterly.

[@andrewisotope8146]

Yeah but Dowding was the man who made the real difference, he pushed for the chain home radar system and urged Churchill to withhold those fighter squadrons from being wasted in the French campaign, had those squadrons been lost we'd have had nothing left to defend the UK with later.

[@andrewisotope8146]

I Acknowledge he was an organiser but Dowding was the main man.

[@jasonmussett2129]

One of my all time faves👍

[@ThePierre58]

Had the book of how the movie was made. Lots of American pilots owned spitfires and flew as a part of the film in 1969.

[@colinbarron4]

I think you are referring to the Confederate Air Force. They owned three Hispano Buchons and they were used in the production, flown by CAF pilots lead by the late Connie Edwards.

[@Bruce-1956]

The German aircraft were loaned by the Spanish Air Force.

[@colinbarron4]

@@Bruce-1956 That is true but the Spanish Air Force had already agreed to sell three of the Buchons to the Confederate Air Force. An agreement was struck in which these three would take part in the film along with the other Buchons , but flown by CAF pilots.

[@ThePierre58]

@@colinbarron4 Thanks, I vaguely recall reading that.

[@raypurchase801]

Yes, I read that book as a kid. Still got it somewhere.

[@raptormesh]

One of my favourite movies of all time.

[@MarkHarrison733]

It is a racist flop.

[@GDP105]

1:27 - this maneuver looks nice.

[@evancrum6811]

Amazing movie. Also.....Michael Caine did a 'cameo' as squadron leader on Dunkirk as a voice!

[@MarkHarrison733]

This film was garbage. Caine was far too old, like most of the others playing pilots.

[@peter2023]

I was lucky to see the BATTLE OF BRITAIN being fimed ,dad was an electrician on site MAGIC WOW

[@animelovers000]

1:48-2:00 The spit showing a great demonstration how much more manoeuvrable it was to the 109

[@xj900uk]

The Me109 had a far better power-weight ratio thanks to its DB fuel-injected 601 engine, which actually gave it the edge especially at high altitude. Surprisingly, it was nearly as manoeverable as the Spitfire, but only Aces would really take it to the edge because of its very unpredictable stall at low speed; also the 'Emile' had a bit of a reputation for weakness and the wings and tail tended to fall off if you tried to flog it too hard, which put off a lot of pilots from trying to 'dance with a Spit', as Galland puts it in his autobiography. Funnily enough, Galland preferred fighting Spitfires as he always said they were easier to shoot down than the Hurricane... he certainly got a lot of them so perhaps he knew what he was talking about...

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

German aeroplanes were far better.

[@xj900uk]

@@JamesRichards-mj9kw Don't think there was that much to choose between the Spit and the Me109. The Hurricane was a little slower and had a poorer rate of climb, but could absorb more punishment, was more forgiving to novices and was very easier to maintain/repair, as well as manufacture.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

@@xj900uk The UK and its defunct empire was only a satellite of the United States by 1941.

[@ChrisCrossClash]

@@xj900uk Spitfire pilots had no problem shooting down more 109s than the other way around, anyway later Mks of Spitfires were vastly superior to the 109 and the FW 190.

[@hanpolo2727]

One of the most important battles in WW2 it essentially decided the fate of our Country.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

It ensured the UK would be a satellite of the United States, Europe would be Communist and Islamic, and the British Empire would cease to exist.

[@thethirdman225]

Yes and no. Germany was not really in a position to invade successfully.

[@quineloe]

correct. During the Norway campaign, the Wehrmacht paratroopers seized many Norway airfields and the Luftwaffe immediately had those available to attack the British Navy at Narvik. All, literally all they had to show was a Tribal Class destroyer and a completley outdated, 25 year old light crusier sunk in two months. They repeatedly sortied against the Royal Navy in the North Sea and failed to sink anything else. In return, HMS Warspite, an old WW1 Dreadnaught, steamed into the 4th destroyer flotilla and sunk all eight Kriegsmarine destroyers without losing a single ship. That was just one capital ship, and the British had dozens of those. The Luftwaffe was not the Imperial Japanese Navy. They were downright awful at sinking warships. Air superiority would not have helped. @@thethirdman225

[@Rapptor22]

Now you guys can't even keep out all the migrants coming into your country.

[@PepitoMegaChocolato]

The Battle of Kursk is surely the confrontation which was the most decisive in terms of the outcome of WW2

[@TundeEszlari]

Super video.😇

[@jocarter2848]

They were all we had as the military equipment was completely zero having been left on the beaches of Dunfirk. These heroes stopped Hitler's invasion and we owe them a huge depth of gratitude. Such brave young men.

[@brendascully5068]

Top guns of their day please restore this film to be enjoyed and revered by a new generation

[@MarkHarrison733]

People no longer support imperialist wars.

[@rbf100]

The unsung hero of the battle was the Hurricane whose priority target was the Luftwaffe bombers.

[@donarthiazi2443]

Absolutely. Why does the Hurricane never receive much praise? Yes, I know the Spitfire was a more capable aircraft, but the Hurricane was also a great little fighter. I just wish our awesome cousins across the pond had more powerful machine guns... at least the .50 cal. Seems like ejection problems kept the mighty 20mm Hispano out of the fight... not sure though.

[@MrVolvobloke]

Ah the standard old youtube reply. Why can we never watch anything about Spitfires without 'But it was the Hurricane that did all the work, the hurricane this, the hurricane that'...There is a myth that the Hurricanes went after the bombers and the Spitfires took on the fighters, but in reality they both took on whatever was in front, pilot histories bear this out. But the fact remains that only 1/3 of fighter command had Spitfires and they still scored 46% of the kills, a much higher ratio than Hurricanes. You were also far more likely to be shot down in a Hurricane. If we had had only Hurricanes we would have been in trouble. Hurricanes had a ratio of I hurricane lost for every 1.6 German machines, whereas the Spitfire had a ratio of 1 Spitfire lost to every 2.3 German machines. I'm not interested in which was the 'true' hero of the battle of Britain, They were BOTH the true heroes and I love both aeroplanes, but can we for once just enjoy a clip of Spitfires without the tedious 'but the Hurricane......'

[@raypurchase801]

@@MrVolvobloke Well Done for opposing the myth about Hurricanes targeting the bombers whereas the Spitfires targeted the fighters. A myth so frequently repeated, it's become accepted fact.

[@julietharty1965]

Amazing really when the totality of firepower was about 17 seconds from start to finish. Short bursts men!!!

[@gezman65]

We had the finger of three at the time in fighter formation. The Germans with their 'four' were far more effective.

[@yamato-yosoroku-klausketeer]

ロバート・ショウの声が好き！

[@yamato-yosoroku-klausketeer]

絵作りが美しい！

[@colinbarron4]

The film is actually called 'Battle of Britain' not 'The Battle of Britain.' However, when production first started it was to be called 'The Battle of Britain.'

[@benyounger3416]

2:01 you can’t beat the sound of that Merlin

[@DeanJWolter]

No you can’t my friend. Went to an air show once and got to see a p-51D startup and that Merlin was bliss

[@troysmith9453]

Nothing like it.

[@prateektripathi4524]

Best movie ❤️

[@danielmoran9902]

And they managed all that without Johnny Mills! A good day's work, gentlemen!

[@Lane8492]

It’s amazing how the skipper of Rabbit Squadron was able to successfully take evasive action from the Bf-109 on his tale and then he takes down a Bf-109.

[@allgood6760]

Timeless movie 👍🎥✈️

[@evertonporter7887]

0:33 "We're Red Squad, we can do anything!"

[@UnleashthePhury]

1:33 “Roger Red 3, I see them” followed by the enemy fighters banking exactly the way the incoming TIEs do

[@kirkp7470]

TIEs???

[@theloneranger8725]

@@kirkp7470 I believe he is referring to Imperial TIE fighters featured in the George Lucas Star Wars movies. Lucas studied old fighter dogfight films to base the movements of his CGI and model Star Wars fighters on.

[@christophermorton914]

Wow, this CGI looks so real.

[@mikebennet7697]

I like how even back then they used simple electronics to track the progress of a battle.

[@richardsimpson3792]

RAF Fighter Command was the first centralised data clearing centre in the world. Inputs from the Met Office, Home Chain RDF (radar), Observer Corps, signal interceptions etc and reports from the aircraft and RAF bases themselves. Back then, the UK led the world in TV, telecoms, radio etc. All thrown away.

[@gamerplayzz5973]

Spitfire was amazing! Rolls Royce engine and could out manoeuvre a 109 on a hurricane dive

[@jamesforte-mason8849]

This is a fantastic film, I cant believe it was made in 1969. Incredible filming and effects. I watch it right through, it makes me proud to be British. Of course nowadays, BBC wouldn't show it in case it offends the Germans, or not WOKE enough because all the actors are white.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

The film was a huge flop, with very bad special effects and very obvious models. The battle is why England is Islamic now.

[@daneelolivaw602]

@@JamesRichards-mj9kw Grow up muppet.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

@@daneelolivaw602 Churchill was bribed by Strakosch.

[@daneelolivaw602]

@@JamesRichards-mj9kw Still a muppet i see.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

@@daneelolivaw602 Churchill openly confirmed it.

[@robertbruce7686]

"Leave the flaming fighters....it's the bloody bombers we want...."

[@raypurchase801]

As spoken by Douglas Bader during the Battle, but he used a different F-word. According to Bader's biography, the word got him into trouble because it was overheard by the many WAAFs on duty.

[@DerekHoscorner]

Awesomeness

[@antonvanetten9071]

Brilliant movie

[@robbiethepict2783]

The Few.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

Myth.

[@SteamLance]

See now the .303 machine guns weren't actually as fast firing, as is depicted in the film. But I won't lie from the first time I watched it, I love how fast they sound

[@johnbower7452]

Mum said she held me up in our garden in East London watching some of the battles being filmed, some of the 'tailing' planes were actually being towed by the one they were 'shooting' at.

[@philipmartin183]

Yes it sums up Great British and makes us Great

[@MarkHarrison733]

Britain had ceased to be great by the 1930s.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

If only Stuffy Dowding had allowed Sqns to abandon the useless Fighting Area Attacks and Vic formations. Everyone but him knew it was killing off young pilots.

[@loudonbands6296]

Very authentic, except for the old pilots.

[@raypurchase801]

True, but if you look at photos of the aircrew taken in WW2, they often looked much older than their years. Heavy strain, the risk of death, being woken at 3am to be ready for 6am raids and a barely-adequate diet will do that to you.

[@estabaescrito]

great Film

[@Jay-nq2jl]

These lads saved the free world…nuff said

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

They made Europe Communist and Islamic.

[@davegeisler7802]

Though it was always cool that their was Sargeant Pilots in the RAF 🇬🇧

[@plugzilla9453]

Almost everything worthwhile carries with it some sort of risk, whether it’s starting a new business, whether it’s leaving home, whether it’s getting married, or whether it’s flying into space.

[@janebrian6300]

You're right, Investing in crypto currency now is the best thing to do especially with the current rise in the market.

[@veronicablissful6993]

But I don't know why people remain poor due to ignorance.

[@davidginty1244]

When it comes to investing, we want our money to grow with the highest rates of return, and the lowest risk possible. While there are no shortcuts to getting rich, but there are smart ways to go about it.

[@drydengerrard6431]

Cypto is risky as many would say but I think the actual risk in it the fear of not Investing.

[@barcicada]

Are you serious? Fighting for freedom and giving your life is not the same as what you just said. Guessing you never served in the military, you just sat back and let others do it for you. My friend you are a coward!!!!!!

[@tennysonfordblackbird2087]

Got the LP of the music from the film.

[@stevec6232]

Looks like Seven Sisters near Eastbourne? Is that correct?

[@TheSeafordian]

Yes. Couldn't see my house though.

[@davidlloyd3116]

The whole 9 yards - which refers to the 27 feet of ammunition for each gun on a hurricane or spitfire.

[@KarlSturmgewher]

Top Gun takes the cake, but Battle of Britain, Midway and Blue Max get thumbs ups!

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

You jest of course.

[@kaneda7368]

Christopher Nolan definitely made nods to this movie in Dunkirk. Many similar shots that were no doubt inspired by this.

[@stevetheduck1425]

Michael Caine in both, in Dunkirk, he's on the radios as the leader of the Spitfires.

[@derrickstableford8152]

It even had Winston from John Wick.

[@alanhynd7886]

It was back in 1940 when he first heard the lines: "Go do what you do best." "What's that?" "Hunt."

[@ashwayn]

Ok i feel for the German air men sorry

[@angloaust1575]

My mother was a wraf at stanmore And biggin she never mentioned Much about her time there Obviously rather traumatic!

[@raypurchase801]

The scene in the movie, about a direct hit on a slit-trench full of WAAFs, really happened.

[@chrisplace9773]

Brilliant film. But what a waste of lives fighting the real battle.

[@melvinbennett444]

The Luftwaffe was severely handicapped in this battle as the film mentions (Air Marshall Dowdy). The Me-109's only had 20 minutes of flight time due to fuel limitations over England. Now....had they had fuel drop tanks which came a little later. Completely different story. Timing is everything.

[@honnebombll]

Right, and beyond that the ME-109 was a so called Energy Fighter, it trades potential energy (height) into kinetic energy (Speed), it closes in on an enemy from above and when he misses uses the energy to dive away and climb again, the Spitfire in contrast is a classic dogfighter which can fly close circles to get behind an enemy. The energy method is of course not possible if the Planes are forced to escort slow and relatively low flying Bombers, thus they were forced into a fight they were not designed for.

[@carnalea2424]

Give me a squadron of Spitfires.

[@MarkHarrison733]

Fake quotation.

[@andymoore7337]

The CO didn't do what he told the squadron to do,"rabbits break right and climb."

[@puniopenetrante]

How in Jesus's green land they made aerial sequences like this?

[@oldgoat142]

With a helluva lot of work and a helluva lot of pre-planning down to the smallest detail.

[@ronsmyth2005]

Experienced pilots.

[@andrewheard3099]

Dakka Dakka Dakka

[@shanecollis4207]

What is the music from right at the end of the video?

[@willTanner-s5f]

Does anyone know what the German Heinkel crewman says to his crew at the end?

[@DJhuggo]

Curiosity, the diretor of air batlle in this movie has a anciant German pilot and veteran this batlle! (Sorry mi english fail)

[@raypurchase801]

Your English is OK! Many German and British veterans advised in this movie.

[@kirkp7470]

@@raypurchase801 ...and they were not old in 1969! Maybe 46-60 years old.

[@raypurchase801]

@@kirkp7470 It was intended to invite the South African ace "Sailor" Malan, but he was very ill and couldn't come. The special edition DVD has lots of interesting commentary. The person wearing the white jacket in the Luftwaffe mess scenes was himself a veteran of the Battle. He was an advisor and was given a walk-on part.

[@Elcore]

Were the frames of the Spitfire crashing into the sea at 2:50 cut or am I experiencing the Mandela effect?

[@robharris8844U]

I think that cut is as it is in the movie - they used that sort of cut a number of times, as obviously they could not actually crash them - smoke flare then the plane would go out of shot of the camera and scene cut to another scene. Crashes seen from above at distance were plane models so the camera did not dwell on the scene as it would effect excitement and that it was a model would become evident.

[@plymouth5714]

This scene takes place about half way through the film, the scene of the Spitfire going all the way down to the beach was, I think in the final climactic battle towards the end just before the final scenes of the RAF pilots waiting around for the enemy who weren't coming after the invasion was called off.

[@Elcore]

@@plymouth5714 Ah, that makes sense; knew I'd seen it somewhere. Thanks.

[@robharris8844U]

@@plymouth5714 Yes, and you can unfortunately tell it is a mock-up of plywood and balsa wood- notice the edit quickly from the scene. It adds to the excitement though.

[@kirkp7470]

@@robharris8844U There were MANY models in the film. I enjoy the paper fighters on the ground blowing up! You see several 'wrinkled' planes on the ground...paper and wood...

[@jonhart7630]

I take it Lovejoy didn't make it?

[@shahrookhshroff3018]

When a heavily - laden bomber, albeit flown well by a crew of "Eperten" but equipped with only one effectively operating defensive machine gun tries to evade or fight off a vengeful attack by a more agile enemy fighter firing EIGHT equivalent machine guns, the air battle gets desperate, hopeless and even fatal for the former. The tables are turned, though, when their canon - firing escorts join the fray, now "evening out the odds"!

[@colderwar]

GET OUT ANDY, JUMP !!!!

[@hrafnofthule5962]

If they all, the German, British, Polish, French and Dutch could see Europe now. Sad state.

[@ianmorris4922]

Yep overrun by Muslims now. I wonder how long until it has to be fought for again or if the government's media truth blockade will win out?🤷‍♂️

[@piglex1]

Great movie, except they all forgot to wear parachutes!

[@katyevans5658]

Sad thing is ...these guys were real men ...the country survived because of these guys and the troops on ground ..epic people..now wat about today ...pathetic culture ...my god .. no comparison ❤

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

Churchill destroyed the UK and Europe.

[@andrewisotope8146]

I think 'at this time' the RAF & Luftwaffe were the only two Air Forces in the world that used Radio transmitters for comms.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

and half the time, those old radios were U/S. The RAF also had IFF Mk.II transmitters.

[@TheTimelord62]

The statement is wrong here, the fighters were actually mostly Hawker Hurricanes.

[@Fordnan]

Mostly, but not solely.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

Except that Hurricanes were slower to climb and to chase down bombers, so any Spitfires available would be first to intercept.

[@aussie6910]

How can you get it wrong when the advisers were actually there.

[@wojciechkopacz7556]

Miłość żąda ofiary. W rocznicę wybuchu II wojny światowej. Gazeta Roland Historia. Polecam.

[@Koolkibanimstions2]

Top gun prequel

[@stevethomas5849]

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Rhodesia, South Africa,. Jamaica, Free French, Czechoslovakia and Poland 303 Squadron were very much involved as the few US volunteers the RAF Eagle Squadron were up in the sky's over Kent against their governments neutrality.

[@thevillaaston7811]

There were no Eagle Squadrons in the Battle of Britain.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

South Africa should have remained neutral.

[@ChrisCrossClash]

@@JamesRichards-mj9kw Shut up Na*i boy.

[@daneelolivaw602]

@@dalj4362 You forgot to mention a few countries and their brave pilots, who also fought in the BoB. Barbados 1 Belgium 28 France 13 Jamaica 1 Newfoundland 1 Rhodesia 3 God bless every single one of them.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

@@dalj4362 117 were Canadian

[@jean-louislalonde6070]

Schnell! Raus! Jawhol!

[@raypurchase801]

"Achtung - Spitfire!"

[@hollandmeester347]

Very weird music/noise during the big dogfight at the end of the movie. Like they dropped some instruments on the floor and used the noise in the movie......