Battle of Britain Read Online Free PDF

city that made me feel angry. I had always wanted to go there and now I felt they were spoiling it, that it would never be the same again. But then I supposed nothing would.
    Then the French threw the towel in. The northern half of the country – the bit nearest to us – was occupied by the Germans. Captured Luftwaffe pilots were freed and put back in the cockpit to face us across the Channel. Now we were for it.
    â€œ What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over ,”said Winston on the 18th. I was sitting right by the wireless with Lenny. “ I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin . . .”
    â€œWe’re ready for ’em, Winston!” shouted one of the chaps at the ping-pong table.
    â€œ The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the War . . .”
    â€œNever!” shouted someone at the back.
    â€œ If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the life of the whole world, including the United States . . .”
    â€œCome on, Yanks!”
    â€œShut up!”
    â€œShut up the lot of you!” said the CO.
    â€œ 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 say: This was their finest hour .”
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    Edith had sent me a cartoon from the Evening Standard . It was by someone called Low, showing a Tommy shaking his fist at a sky full of German bombers with the words “ Very well, alone .”It seemed to capture that mood, that feeling of having our backs to the wall. I thought it was first rate, but Lenny was quick to point out that we weren’t quite alone.
    â€œHow come?” I asked.
    â€œWell, think about it,” he said. “Just in the RAF, the Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians have all joined in. Then there are the Yank and Irish volunteers. And the South Africans. And what about the Czechs and the Poles. . .”
    â€œOK, OK, I get the message!” I said, putting my hands over my ears.
    Lenny had a point, though. 11 Group was commanded by a Kiwi, Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park, who was terrific, flitting about between bases in his Hurricane, wearing his trademark white helmet, and 10 Group – the group north of London – was commanded by a South African, Air Vice-Marshal Leigh-Mallory.
    Canadian pilots had seen plenty of action in France, and now we had Czechs and Poles training to fly our aircraft. These chaps had managed to evade the Germans all across Europe. They had seen the power of the Luftwaffe at first hand and were out for revenge.
    We even had some Yanks at the base. Some Americans were so fed up with the USA staying neutral, that they came and joined up anyway. We were glad to have them. Come to think of it, Churchill was half American himself!

July 1940
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    As I reached our front door, I heard an incredible racket coming from the hall, like a suit of armour falling down a flight of stairs. When the front door opened I saw Edith standing there with an armful of saucepans.
    â€œEdith!” I shouted. “I didn’t know you were home.”
    â€œOnly arrived an hour ago. Can’t stop. Mum’s in frantic mode.”
    â€œHello dear!” called Mum. “Get a move on, Edith.”
    I squeezed against the wall as Edith and Mum edged past with what looked like every kitchen utensil in the house. They tossed them all into an old pram and went clinking and clanking down the drive towards the village.
    My dad was reading the paper in the sitting room.
    â€œGood to see you, son. You’re looking well.” I looked terrible. “Sit yourself down.”
    â€œWhat’s going on?” I said.
    â€œAluminium Fever,” said Dad.
    â€œAluminium Fever?” I asked, picking up a