76th anniversary of the Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain was one of the most pivotal moments in the country's history. It marked a turning point when Britain stood alone against Hitler's seemingly unstoppable military power.

In the summer of 1940 – after Hitler swept through France and drove the British army out of the European mainland - the people of Britain made ready for a Nazi invasion. But before Hitler could conquer the country he needed to gain air superiority. The Luftwaffe launched a large scale attack, intent on wiping out Britain's air defences. The pilots of the RAF, who became known as "The Few", stood up to wave after wave of German fighters and bombers sending a clear message to Hitler that Britain would never surrender.

By October 1940 the RAF was victorious. Hitler called off his invasion plans and the Luftwaffe switched to bombing British cities. Britain now stood as the last bastion of resistance against Nazi Germany.