A Special Day

As Sir Winston Churchill said, maybe not the end, but the end of the beginning.

Today is September 15, now celebrated as the day that Goering sent a max effort of German bombers and fighter escort to attack multiple targets in England. The German mantra was that Fighter Command had taken such heavy losses that the attacks would be successful.
The RAF Hurricanes and Spitfires, aided by radar and the observer core, met that attacks with enough force that a number of German planes were shot down and others made it back to France shot up and with crew dead or wounded. Not good for morale. As one German pilot said, Here come the last 100 RAF fighters, again.

After this day, it was obvious that the Luftwaffe was not going to achieve the air superiority needed to actually invade England.
In one his dumbest moves Hitler turned to the invasion of Russia eventually.

German attacks continued after Sept 15, and much damage was done, But there was a brighter day in sight for the British, even if far down a difficult road.

In 1991, I was at Trafalgar Square in London for the anniversary fly over the celebrate the day. Quite a event to see and an honor.
The RAF Memorial Flight, Spits, Hurris, and the Lanc, came right over the arch then down the path and over Buckingham Palace. No FAA 1000 feet or any such dogma, they were at about a 100 feet AGL. The flyover was to be at 9:30 am . At 8.00 it was grey and raining, at 8:30 the rain stopped and at 9:15 the sun broke out. The Flight was right on time, led by the oldest Spit and the oldest Hurricane. It was a hell of a moment, and a great sound.. I was with Peter Arnold, noted Spit expert and owner. There in front of the Palace were stands of dignataries, perhaps the most significant of them were an number of RAF vets who had flown in the Battle of Britain. One of these men, Al Lang, was a friend and someone who I had flown with. They were like boys then, some still in their teens, and they are gone now or at least old men, but still have that boyish spirit inside.
Hitler badly underestimated the British and Churchill.

In 1940 Great Britain was the only piece of Europe fighting against Hitler (and Mussolini :() for freedom. RAF Fighter Command's boys did a great job and so did Churchill and British people. The darkest hour became the finest hour.