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70 years ago Britain stood alone against a formidable enemy who had just conquered the mainland of Europe, with an air fleet of 1500 battle ready aircraft Germany had the advantage over the RAF witch had some 600 fighters to defend the country.
Britain however had an important novelty: an Integrated Air Defence System. A large network of the (civilian) Royal Observer Corps (equipped with telephones) and the new Radar stations was sending early warning information of enemy aircraft closing into the British coast to a central plotting room where the squadrons of Hurricanes and Spitfires were directed from. Working this system the RAF didn’t have to send out as much aerial patrols and was capable to make a strong stand to the Luftwaffe with the smaller numbers of aircraft they had.
Of course this is describing the Battle of Britain in a very small nutshell, but even though I am a huge aircraft fan, I think that the combination of the Royal Observer Corps, Radar and the aircraft of the RAF was unique for it’s time and should not be forgotten.
