History of the Second World War 232: The Battle of Britain Pt. 7 - Battle of Britain Day
Sep 10, 2025
On September 15, 1940, the Luftwaffe intensified their assault in a critical daylight raid over London. Over 500 bombers, supported by fighters, aimed to cripple key infrastructure, but the RAF Fighter Command launched a coordinated defense. Their swift responses turned the air above London chaotic, revealing the Germans’ underestimation of British resilience. After significant losses, Hitler postponed his plans for invasion, marking this date not just as a turning point in aerial warfare, but the dawn of the Blitz.
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Two-Phase Raid To Protect An Invasion
- The German plan used a smaller heavily escorted raid to distract RAF fighters, followed by a larger strike to hit railways and docks.
- Their aim was to cripple transport to the southeast coast to support an invasion force.
Use Altitude And Timing For Effective Intercepts
- Intercept doctrine relied on climbing to specific altitudes and staging squadrons to peel off fighter escorts in layers.
- Positioning higher and coordinating timing maximized chances to disrupt escorts and attack bombers.
Kenley Wing Joins The Fray
- Multiple RAF squadrons including the Kenley Wing engaged the Dornier raid, shooting down several BF-109s and damaging bomber formations.
- The sustained layered attacks forced many bombers to fight back to the Channel under heavy pressure.