Sunday, September 15, 1940 - Luftwaffe losses mount over Britain

[Louis]

Over Britain... Kesselring makes another great effort against London. He plans two main raids but they cannot be timed to catch the RAF fighters refueling because his strength is sufficiently reduced that he must send the same fighters on both occasions. He can muster 400 fighters but less than 200 bombers in the morning attack. The fighting is very heavy with the Germans being harried all the way to London, then being heavily engaged over London and all the way back to the coast. The bombers are not able to drop their loads with any accuracy at all. The afternoon shows a similar story but the fighter battles are more intense and the bombers bomb nearer to their targets as a consequence. Although the fighter combats have gone about equally the German bomber losses are very severe, bring the German loss for the day to 60 aircraft for a bag of 26 from the RAF. Many more German bombers have been damaged or have crewmen dead or wounded. Their morale suffers as they meet up to 300 RAF fighters in one raid after their leaders have told them that the RAF as a whole has less than this number. Although it is not apparent at the time or for several weeks afterward, this is the last real attempt by the Luftwaffe to destroy the resistance of Fighter Command.

USSR... The USSR modifies its conscription laws. From now on 19-20 year olds will be conscripted.

Canada... Following legislation passed in August single men between 21 and 24 are called up.

 

[Louis]

 

[Ithikial]

When you think about it, probably one of the biggest turning points in history.

Shame the Battle of Britain doesn't get more attention than it does compared to other WW2 operations.

 

[Louis]

The significance of sept 15 1940 was recognised by W Churchill when he stated that the day was the “crux of the Battle of Britain”.

In an excerpt from his collection of speeches, Their Finest Hour. Churchill describes the events immediately before September 15, 1940, and the action that occurred on that day, notably the air defense organized against the German attacks which ultimately led to Hitler's postponement and later discontinuation of his planned attack on Britain, Operation Sea Lion.-

pbs.org
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