Newbury Scale Model Club

4

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

70 years ago, on 10 July 1940, the German Luftwaffe bombed London and south east England starting what was later to be called the Battle of Britain. Some 3,000 British airmen fought back and prevented a possible invasion. In a famous speech, Winston Churchill later said of their actions: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

The Battle of Britain was the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces, and was also the largest and most sustained aerial bombing campaign to that date. From July 1940 coastal shipping convoys and shipping centres, such as Portsmouth were the main targets; one month later the Luftwaffe shifted its attacks to RAF airfields and infrastructure. As the battle progressed the Luftwaffe also targeted aircraft factories and ground infrastructure. Eventually the Luftwaffe resorted to attacking areas of political significance and using terror bombing tactics.