The Few: Battle of Britain Aircrew

The defence of Britain during the Battle of Britain depended on the courage of just 2,937 British and Allied aircrew.

The average age of the Battle of Britain pilots was just 20 years old. As German Luftwaffe sought to destroy the RAF and gain air superiority in preparation for an invasion of Britain, Battle of Britain aircrew were flying multiple sorties a day to intercept the relentless Luftwaffe raids over the British skies,

Aircrew from sixteen nationalities flew and fought together against the Luftwaffe, who outnumbered the RAF in both aircraft and pilots.

Against all odds, the RAF defeated the Luftwaffe. Hitler was forced to abandon his plans to invade Britain.

544 aircrew were killed during the Battle of Britain. A further 422 aircrew were wounded.

British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, famously expressed the incredible debt owed to the Battle of Britain aircrew:

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

The Museum’s Rotunda gallery is dedicated to telling the courageous stories of The Few.