Remembering "The Few"

[MDFrench]

To all of the fine men and women here at GoldenEra,

I know I do not post very often. Graduate school keeps me away, but tomorrow is an important day that people who appreciate the 1930s and 1940s need to recognize, so let me take a moment to share this with you.

Tomorrow is September 15. Here in the U.S., it doesn't mean much, but it should. Great Britain marks September 15 as Battle of Britain Day, and on this day in 1940 in the skies over London, an aerial siege that had gone on for over two months was finally broken.

As Americans, we still bask in the glory of WWII and remember the sacrificies of our brave soldiers at Pearl Harbor, Omaha Beach, Iwo Jima, and in the skies over Europe in the Flying Fortresses. However, few Americans know that before December 7, 1941, the United States was strictly neutral and isolationist.

Europe was begging for help, literally being overrun by the darkest evil ever manifested in man. The Nazis, it seemed, could not be stopped. As Poland, Belgium, and Holland fell and the French surrendered, one tiny island nation found itself alone with its back to the sea, the last hold-out against Hitler's armies.

They begged for help. The U.S. sent supplies, but remained isolationist in the grand scheme. Britain was alone, with a devastated army swimming back from Dunkirk, and a badly outnumbered group of Royal Air Force pilots being the only line of defense against the still advancing Luftwaffe. As many have dubbed it, this was history's narrowest margin.

These brave pilots, whom Winston Churchill dubbed "the Few," flew day and night against the seemingly endless Nazi bombers and fighters. In Hurricanes and Spitfires, they held the line, but just barely - many dying in the skies or maimed beyond recognition. These were men defending their homes, with no thought of running. Of course, there was no where to run to, except the Atlantic.

These pilots' sacrificies effectively stopped Hitler's unstoppable advance. They faced daunting odds, often 4 to 1, but they held their ground. Were it not for them, D-Day might never have been, nor North Africa, for there would have been no effective staging ground to launch a counterattack against Fortress Europe.

Incidentally, there were 7 documented Americans who flew in the Battle of Britain with the RAF. These men defied the U.S. government's threat of imprisonment and fines for the greater good. Yes, the U.S. made it illegal to join foreign armies during it's neutrality policy, but these men answered the call anyway, the majority of them dying before Pearl Harbor.

In short, the RAF pilots who flew and died in The Battle of Britain gave freedom a slim chance of succeeding - they carved out hope with their blood. Take a moment on September 15 to remember these men, not just the 7 Americans (and the many other Yanks who claimed to be Canadian that we will never truly know) but every - single - pilot who died so the world might live.

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. " - Winston Churchill

Thanks for reading this,
Mike French (no relation to the nation)

If you'd like to learn more about the "Yanks in the RAF" go to my website at www.geocities.com/rafeaglesquadron

 

[Andykev]

What if?

I compliment you on that fine post. We, as Americans, tend to view history as "one sided". Yes, Brittian should cherish the memory and heroics celebrated on Sept. 15.

I have often wondered if Hitler had decided to maintain the peace with Stalin, and focused his advance to England...what crisis that would have been. Without England, the great country where we were able to launch bomber attacks on France and Germany.....we would have lost.

If given the two or more years for our country to develope weapons and aircrat to launch an attack from our mainland or from bases, likely in China or Russia...would the Nazi's have had time to perfect their jet planes, rockets, and possibly Nuclear weapons? The path of history is uncertain, and not guaranteed.

What if? It is a marvelous game here at the Lounge.

Cheers.

 

[MK]

For those unfamiliar with Mister French, he is a good man and my good friend. It is good to see him here again. I hope he makes it a habit.

Thanks for the reminder MF. I raise my glass to the island and those who defended her.

 

[The Wingnut]

Thanks, MD. I'm a bit embarrased by the fact that as much as I claim to be an enthusiast of all things aviation and WWII related, the significance of September 15th had not occured to me.

Tomorrow will certainly have a long moment of silence in remembrance of those who fell in the war and have since passed. We owe them more than our gratitude, we owe them our very lives.

 

[PADDY]

A fine tribute to "The Few."

The American Ace, Don Gentile, who flew with the RAF Eagle Squadrons before the US entered the war, trained on Spitfires at an Operational Training Unit, just five minutes from me in Northumberland (England).

Sadly, memories are short, and those young folk who made up THE FEW and fought in the Battle of Britain in that late summer of 1940 means very little to people these days. Our freedom should never be taken for granted, as it is often built on the foundations of spilled blood.

Some of us, for at least one day at year, can light a candle to those young lions who died to preserve freedom and democracy, something we have to keep fighting for.

 

[PADDY]

My Battle of Britain Irvin flying jacket.

This flying jacket (made by the Irvin company in England) was used during the time of the Battle of Britain by aircrew in 1940. Sorry, couldn't get a half decent model as Brad was working on a movie, so I had to step in instead!!

 

[PADDY]

And the label...

Thought you might be interested in the label too...

 

[MDFrench]

At some point, I'll have to send photos of my WWII RAF Blue-grey wool Battlejacket, Battle of Britain era flying gauntlets, and my coveted RAF spec MK VIII Halcyon goggles. I am also trying to snag myself a vintage WWII RAF Webley MK VI web belt w/holster.

Today truly is a special day - and it often makes me a little emotional. I lived in Weybridge, Surrey for 4 years. On September 15, 1940, the first aerial engagements of the day took place just before noon, with 609 Squadron from Warmwell encountering the first bombers and fighters. What makes it so cosmic is that 609 Squadron was home to the three Americans who became the first members of Eagle Squadron. All three of them flew on Sept 15, and guess where they (and all of 609 Squadron) were at 11:50 AM when they encountered the Luftwaffe? Right over Weybridge.

The decisive day of the battle started right above the village I called home, and three Americans were up there too, fighting for our freedom.

Mike

MK - Thanks for the kind words. I have always been honored to be amongst the people you call friends. In many ways, I feel it was the most important accomplishment I made while living in California. Jobs come and go, but solid, true friendships are rare.

 

[Feraud]

Thank you for that important post.

 

[Kilgour Trout]

Don't forget the Colonials eh!

MD..Much appreciation on the heads up. One thing that is often missed....is the large number of pilots that came from South Africa, Austrailia and Canada in the Battle of Britain. The vast number of Bush Pilots that went from my part of the county is well remembered. Conversations with My Great Uncle "who was a Mechanic on Lancasters and a part time Navagator on Mosquito's" were enjoyed....He remembers how in the early days everyone was working or training for the war....He remembers the lend lease deal and how the US would fly their Bostons, P40's and even early Mustangs up to the border, Canucks would literally push them across and then fly them over the big pond. Actually...many US men joined the Canadian Airforce to follow their consceince and get an early crack at the foe. Many of the Pilots trained in Canada, cut their teeth on Tiger Moth's, Ansons and Harvards before heading over to Britain. Many Brit's themselves were shipped to Canada to train.
In those early days, the Common Wealth was vital to Britains Survival. Frankly...I'm always in awe of the way the Aussies took on the Japanese in so many Island scraps, not to mention us Canucks in Hong Kong. All that can be said is that...as Britain stood alone, she was not alone. She took the worst beating of us non-continentals and Deserves the greatest respect for standing in the Breach. Having read a fair bit of war and pre-war history, I just wish the Government had listened to Churchill in the 20's and 30's when he sounded off about conditions in Germany.
So...much could have been averted.
Not to mention...if they had just let Adolf into Art School...

Many salutations for any of our British Members
Warm Regards
Kilgour Trout

 

[Michaelson]

As a point of history, it remains to this day whom Churchill was referring to when he referred to the 'few'. In many circles, they firmly believe he was referring to the then unknown group of radar operators who could pin-point the location of the German flights coming over the channel, allowing the RAF time to regroup and scramble their planes to meet the new oncoming bombers. The Germans finally gave up, firmly believing that Britain had MANY more planes than their spies had told them. WIthout radar and the men who pioneered it's use, the RAF would have been overwealmed by sheer number. So, the debate goes on. Either way, all the brave men and women who sacrificed their all on this day should be remembered, regardless of which side of the debate you stand on. They were ALL 'the few' in my opinion. High regards. Michaelson

 

[MDFrench]

Very true, Michaelson -

Many members of the WAAF and ground crew and Home Guard died during the Battle of Britain as well.

I always include them in "The Few" when I remember them, and after looking at my post I realize that I only mentioned the pilots.

Rest assured, I have not overlooked them in my reflections and prayers.

Mike

 

[CoffeeDude]

How ironic that I should read this post after reading a short news item about a group in British Columbia who want to raise a bronze memorial to honor the "courageous legacy" of U.S. draft-dodgers who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War.

Thanks MDFrench, for the reminder of what a true courageous legacy is.

 

[MK]

Originally posted by CoffeeDude
How ironic that I should read this post after reading a short news item about a group in British Columbia who want to raise a bronze memorial to honor the "courageous legacy" of U.S. draft-dodgers who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War.

That is sick.

 

[jamespowers]

Wow! I couldn't post earlier this morning because after reading "The Few" I could not see the keyboard (emotional).
Then I read of a draft dodger museum and I see red! :rage: A little over twenty years separate men who went to Canada to defy the government and fight the Nazis and the hippies who went over to Canada to evade the draft, protest against America and give aid and comfort to the Commies. What went wrong with the WWII generation's kids? I don't get it. :rage:

Regards to all,

J

 

[MDFrench]

Hey all,

I feel like a real chump. I misspelled the weblink I posted at the beginning of this message.

It's - www.geocities.com/rafeaglesquadron

Sorry about that.

Mike

 

[Big-T]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for such a great post.

Honestly I am not much of a reader, and just kind of glance through the posts real quick. Well you have totally screwed up my timing for the morning by actually making me stop and read.

I too was sickened to hear about the draft dodger memorial. All I can say, is that I am glad that stuff like that still sickens me.

Is it just me, or are others of you starting to get a general dislike for Canada. I never thought I would get that way, but I am just started to flinch everytime I hear something about them lately.


Big-T

 

[PADDY]

Disappointed that the Few are forgotten...

I posted on a couple of boards about just thinking over the price of freedom and the sacrifice made by those lads and lasses in 1940 during the Battle of Britain.

I got about one response, and the guys just wittered on about their vintage flying jackets, as if the jackets are more important than the people who wore and fought in them!

Surely a jacket or a hat for that matter are inanimate objects. They are like a body laid out to rest at a funeral wake, it's a shell. What gives that shell 'soul' and 'life' is the person who dons it, breathes life into it and impresses their character and personality through it!

And then, there are those young heroes, who chose to die in those jackets. So am I getting a little bit cynical here when I think that it's absurd when the jacket or hat becomes more important than the person who gave it life through wearing it?

I just felt very sad and disappointed the other day, when I highlighted that Battle of Britain day was becoming a forgotten day, and the very folk who I highlighted this to, promptly read and discarded the post and the memory of those young fliers, ground crew, radar operators..etc and then squabbled about who makes the nicest repro A-2 or Irvin..!!

The Canada thing I am not even going to touch, as my blood is up already. But it is an insult to all those brave Canadians and Americans who have died for freedom. I saw all too many of their graves earlier this year in Northern France, with only a white tombstone to mark their place in this life.

 

[MDFrench]

That report REALLY upsets me. Sadly, such is the case with most of the people in my generation and younger. It's all about material possessions, not the significance of them.

Well - I know there are a few people here who will not forget those men.

I'm one of them.

 

[Michaelson]

To add to my post...most of the radar operators I refer to WERE specially trained Canadians, and they were the ones behind those scopes during the raid. Brave BRANVE individuals all. I was fortunate enough to actually know one before he passed away, and he told the entire story of his involvement to me. Regards. Michaelson