1
The Battle of Britain
Never in the field of human conflict was so much
owed by so many to so few.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill, August 1940
Statistics
Defending the Nation -The Nation at War
Press Esc at any time to end the presentation.
2
Fighter Command Fighter Aircraft 1st July 1940
Spitfires(Single-engined aircraft) 286
Hurricanes (Single-engined aircraft) 463
Defiants (Single-engined aircraft) 37
Blenheims (Twin-engined aircraft) 114
Total number of aircraft available
Source The Battle of Britain by Alfred Price
(1990)
3
Luftwaffe Fighter Aircraft July 1940
Me 109s (single-engined aircraft) 844
Me 110s (Twin-engined aircraft) 240
Total number of aircraft available
Who had the most fighters available at the start
of theBattle of Britain?
Difference in Fighter Command and Luftwaffe
fighter strength

Source The Battle of Britain by Alfred Price
(1990)
4
Luftwaffe Bomber Aircraft July 1940
Ju 87(Single-engined aircraft)
Do 17(Twin-engined aircraft)
JU 88s(Twin-engined aircraft)
He 111s(Twin-engined aircraft)
280
Combined 1,330
Total number of aircraft available
Source The Battle of Britain by Alfred Price
(1990)
5
The Luftwaffe had the numerical advantage in
terms of pilots and planes at the beginning of
the Battle of Britain?
Spitfires(Single-engined aircraft) 286
Hurricanes (Single-engined aircraft) 463
Defiants (Single-engined aircraft) 37
Blenheims (Twin-engined aircraft) 114
Although the number of planes were important what
other factors can you think of that could have
influenced the outcome of the battle?
Me 109s (single-engined aircraft) 844
Me 110s (Twin-engined aircraft) 240
Ju 87(Single-engined aircraft)
Do 17(Twin-engined aircraft)
JU 88s(Twin-engined aircraft)
He 111s(Twin-engined aircraft)
280
Combined 1,330
Source The Battle of Britain by Alfred Price
(1990)
6
Killed
Pilots
United Kingdom 2,543 418
Polish 147 30
New Zealand 101 14
Canadian 94 20
Czech 87 8
Belgian 29 6
South African 22 9
Australian 22 14
Free French 14 Nil
Irish 10 Nil
United States 7 1
Southern Rhodesian 2 Nil
Jamaican 1 Nil
Palestinian 1 Nil
Discuss the composition of the R.A.F. in
1940. How do you explain this mix of
nationalities?
Source The Battle of Britain by Len Deighton
(1980)
7
Pilots
Killed
United Kingdom 2,543 418
Polish 147 30
New Zealand 101 14
Canadian 94 20
Czech 87 8
Belgian 29 6
South African 22 9
Australian 22 14
Free French 14 Nil
Irish 10 Nil
United States 7 1
Southern Rhodesian 2 Nil
Jamaican 1 Nil
Palestinian 1 Nil
How many pilots took part in the Battle of
Britain according to this table? How many
pilots lost their lives during the Battle?
Total
Total
Source The Battle of Britain by Len Deighton
(1980)
8
Pilots
Killed
United Kingdom 2,543 418
Polish 147 30
New Zealand 101 14
Canadian 94 20
Czech 87 8
Belgian 29 6
South African 22 9
Australian 22 14
Free French 14 Nil
Irish 10 Nil
United States 7 1
Southern Rhodesian 2 Nil
Jamaican 1 Nil
Palestinian 1 Nil
Which country lost the most pilots? Which
country lost the most pilots in proportion to the
number of pilots that it had in the R.A.F?
Country
Country
Source The Battle of Britain by Len Deighton
(1980)
9
Aircraft lost in combat between 24th August and
6th September, 1940.
August 148 179
September 93 119

Aircraft lost in combat between 16th September
and 31st October, 1940.
September 116 204
October 130 259

Which Air Force suffered the greatest losses
during each period shown? Which Air Force lost
the most aircraft overall and by how many?
Source The Battle of Britain by Len Deighton
(1980)