HOME 

EVENTS

MUSEUM

AIRCRAFT 

CONTACT US

LINKS

2001 Air show to honour ‘the few’

THE Wanaka-based Hawker Hurricane, one of few in the world still flying, will be a highlight of Wings Over Wairarapa. — Picture by IAN BRODIE

ONE of the major themes of the Wings Over Wairarapa airshow on January 28 at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton, is the Battle of Britain. KIM PERREAUX, publicity officer for the show, looks back on the history-making conflict.

Of the nationalities and member countries of the then British Empire who participated in the battle, and for its small population, New Zealand was over-represented.

Perhaps the most famous New Zealander associated with the battle was Air Vice Marshall Keith Park, commander of 11 Group that bore the brunt of the Luftwaffe attacks. His strategic leadership was a vital contributor to the eventual outcome. In order to be considered as having taken part in the battle as one of the “the few”, pilots (and in some caes air gunners and observers) had to have participated in one authorised operation with an eligible squadron between the generally recognised dates, from July 10 to October 31, 1940. This entitled participants to wear the Battle of Britain clasp with their 193-45 star medal.

Two of the participating aircraft at the airshow from the Alpine fighter collection, based at Wanaka, also have links to the Battle of Britain. Hawker Hurricane P3351 took part in the Battle of France and flew with 73 Squadron early in the battle until damaged in a landing accident. It was subsequently issued to 31 Squadron late in the battle.

Supermarine Spitfire ZK/XVI/TB863 is a Mark XVI model that flew operations late in World War II. However, it took a flying role in the film, The Battle of Britain, suitably disguised as a Mark II.

Prior to the Battle of Britain, Germany had conquered much of Europe with their Blitzkrieg style of warfare by 1940. Their success was so stunning that the British Empire and its allies found themselves reeling before the German onslaught. This defeat culminated in the evacuation of significant numbers of allied and European troops from Dunkirk, with their equipment, and in disarray.

Prior to this, the RAF and British army had committed forces into France in an attempt to slow Hitler’s lightning campaign across Europe. During this period, known as The Phony War, the RAF lost 508 of its aircraft based in France.

Significantly, Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding wrote a secret memo to his superiors on May 16, 1940, seeking the retention of fighter aircraft in the United Kingdom rather than squandering them in France. He concluded “if the Home defence Force is drained away in desperate attempts to remedy the situation in France, defeat in France will involve the final, complete and irremediable defeat in this country”. Dowding’s advice was followed, and no further combat aircraft sent to France.

SIR HUGH DOWDING

SIR KEITH PARK

In the lull that followed the inevitable defeat of France, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was moved to comment: “What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin”.

It is generally accepted that the Battle of Britain began on July 10, 1940, with the first phase being Luftwaffe attacks on coastal shipping. Phase two of the battle involved attacks on radar stations and RAF airfields in August. From August 24 to September 6, 1940, Luftwaffe attacks on RAF airfields intensified (as phase three).

Phase four of the battle resulted from the accidental bombing of London by a lost Luftwaffe crew (who had been ordered not to bomb the city) and the subsequent reprisal raid ordered by Churchill on Berlin.
Hitler’s response was to order the destruction of English cities.

The blitz began on September 7, 1940, and from this date until November 3, 200 Luftwaffe bombers attacked London every night. September 15, 1940, was significant in that the RAF inflicted heavy losses on the Luftwaffe. On September 17, Operation Sealion (the invasion of Britain) was postponed indefinitely.

The day is celebrated annually as Battle of Britain day.

The final and fifth phase of the battle took place between October 1 and 31 with higb altitude daylight bombing and a continuation of night bombing. After this date, night bombing continued but daylight raids diminished.

The ability of the RAF to repulse the Luftwaffe, and recognition by Hitler that invasion was not feasible without air superiority, effectively meant the end of any serious invasion plans.

Reprinted with permission (c) The Wairarapa Times Age 2001