This is a private, non-commercial, non-monetised project:
In a nation’s darkest hour, a special breed of warrior presents itself. This is the story of Wiggs and Zena.
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See also:
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN – SEPTEMBER SKIES
https://youtu.be/Dh3Pmz6BKLM
An ambitious Luftwaffe ace encounters a 19-year-old RAF recruit flying his first Spitfire sortie in the Battle of Britain over Kent. What could possibly go wrong… for the both of them?
See also:
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN – THE KING’S MACHINE
https://youtu.be/h4XMe89bonY
Two Yorkshire lads go off to war, one in a Spitfire, one in a Hurricane.
And also:
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN – THE MEN WHO FELL FROM THE SKY
https://youtu.be/h8fHGFkyU0A
On September 15 1940, all hell breaks loose in the skies over a Kent village. For a 19-year-old Hurricane pilot, this will be a day unlike any other.
See also:
V FOR VENGEANCE
https://youtu.be/Loj5uXqQPH8
Hitler’s V Weapons, Summer 1944 – With Operation Overlord, the greatest air and seaborne invasion in history, now underway across the Channel in Normandy, the British people dare to imagine the war may soon be over. But for London and the Kent villages, a new nightmare is about to begin.
See also:
RAF STAPLEHURST
https://youtu.be/fjNKEcXc6aQ
RAF Staplehurst is a former WW2 Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) situated in central Kent, England. The airfield is located approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of Staplehurst, about 38 miles SE of London.
Built during 1943 as an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) for Operation Overlord (Normandy invasion), Staplehurst was used briefly by RAF fighter squadrons during August to October 1943 and then allocated to the US Ninth Air Force.
See also:
1066 – RESPICE FINEM
https://youtu.be/BqWqaExwNwM
What is the background to 1066, the most famous date in English history? If you think you know the whole story, this film will amaze you
source
A meticulous and compelling production making a sobering narrative that captures the humanity of those depicted as well as the history- a film of great distinction. On a personal level, I have a friend whose father was a Blenheim navigator who was shot down in the Abyssinian campaign in 1940. He says apart from the pilot the other crew had virtually no chance of escaping this aircraft type. His father was posted as missing and after the allotted time, declared dead. His mother received a widow's pension and eventually the Red Cross discovered he had survived to become a prisoner of the Italians. My friend said that after this official announcement his mother was contacted and told she must refund the pension monies! I also knew a rather testy former Blenheim pilot who drank in our local called Charlie. When the Blenheim crashed at Denham airfield in 1987 he stated plainly that "he knew that was going to happen" but it was in fact down to pilot error and doing the "touch and go" which was not authorised and the pilot's lack of knowledge of the Mercury engines- he flooded them when he needed maximum power. Thankfully, nobody died in that mishap.
Allow me to add my own congratulations for an outstanding production. A compelling presentation of the early months of the second world war, personalized by meticulous and no doubt challenging research. Thank you for sharing your remarkable talent once again.
Again this is another masterpiece of bringing the 1940s to light and the Historic period is narrated so well when the British People stood alone. outstanding thank you Philip.
Regards Pete.
What a brilliant documentary ,a real tear jerker, Thank you
Another great production from Phillip Day & team. The time invested and meticulous attention to detail create a really compelling watch. Thoroughly recommended.
An absolutely stunning production, utterly compelling. Thank you.
Great work!
This is the first time that I’ve ever heard the Blenheim described as a fighter bomber. Someone was certainly demonstrating a reckless degree of optimism
Keeping the story alive, so well done.Much gratitude.
The refusal of authorities to recognise serious faults with the Blenheim, choosing to blame the aircrew was reflected in the irresponsible and immature attitude of the MOD and the regular army in the 1980s with the SA80A1 rifle! Nobody was ever called to account!
Thanks very much for this.
Imteresting point about not being able to deploy the dinghy. I cant remember the book or author but he described how, having shot down over the sea a number of occasions….and how each time the dinghy floated away because there was no rope attached to it. Evrntually, having reported the issue through official channels with no result he contacted higher authority directly. He received a snotty letter back informing him that his request for ropes to be fitted to dinghys was impossible because it would add to the cost!
Sir, simply outstanding.
Fantastic production. Thank you.
Anyone know where to find a copy of the book. Before the few. Clive Manwaring.
Thank you from New Zealand. We still have missing family lost over Germany never to be FORGOTTEN.
Well done
Outstanding. One of the very best!: About the Best. We won't see their like again.
Only one problem with this documentary, no subtitles!…. For us old folk with dodgy hearing, we can hear the commentator when there is no music, but when the music kicks in, it is louder than the talking so much guessing is to be done as to what the narrative is…
more stories please
Very moving. The Battle of Britain, a valiant effort, overshadowed a suicidal effort by the RAF earlier but I wonder at the recklessness of the senior officer(s) in sending men in such appalling weather conditions at the end of their physical stamina to sacrifice their lives with nothing gained.
It was the British RAF fighter commander in chief who saved Britain and restricted movement of such lunatic relief missions to France and who was ousted right after the completion of this valiant and superbly organised effort considering the use of the radar in defending Britain.
In retrospect Hitler should have been accommodated by the British even as he stood at Dunkirk (British empire intact and same Anglo Saxon background, the German royal family) and made peace offers. Europe was sacrificed to foreign overseas elements and what a price was paid even by Britain as it stands now.
Thank you, so sad, so much sacrifice and courage.
I think you've got the most honourable take on telling the moving and gripping story put into the correct context of the true cost of war and the unsung hero's who knowing the odds were strongly stacked against them did their jobs to their upmost anyway.
Excellent!
7 To all that fell in them hard day`s hat`s off.
Good work on highlighting coastal command just before the battle of britain. Pilot officer Gane who flew with 248 in A flight have come across in my connections with flying officer A.L.Fowler mentioned in Birds book coastal Dawn. If any relatives of 248 sqn have pics info please contact me. still looking for F.O.Fowlers log book may be in Newzealand.
That was blinkin' good.
A very moving account of extreme bravery and heroism from men and women just like us who found themselves overtaken by one of the most evil chapters in modern history. The faces of those rescued from Dunkirk moved me to tears. May we be eternally thankful for those that served & the sacrifice of those that never made it back. Thank you for this excellent documentary.
Thanks for that was very interesting Steve UK.
So young so brave !
RAF Bomber Command's casualties in training alone were 10% Would you take a job where you could get killed training – and of course, the final toll was 56%!!