Battle of Britain 80: Allies at War

Funded by A&E UK, Poland, Sweden & Benelux – available elsewhere worldwide.

This documentary gives a new perspective of a critical period in 1940. With Britain in crisis after a devastating defeat in Europe, these are the key moments that lead to WWII’s most famous battle, and the moment the Allies stepped in to save a nation.

Brought to you by a renowned War production house behind the VE Day: In Colour films for Channel 4 and UKTV, this film reveals untold stories from across Europe about the turning point of WWII.

Expert contributions, stunning archive and moving testimonies from the pilots themselves tell emotional, heroic and and life-changing stories of British, French, Czech and Polish events and actions that occurred in the critical battle – and secured Britain’s defence.

Overview:

For decades, the sky battles of the summer of 1940 have been eulogised as a fight between good and evil – aggressor and defender, fought out between Messerschmitts, Spitfires and Hurricanes. The reality of this titanic fighter and bomber struggle was rather more blood, sweat and oil than silk scarves and heroic gestures. 14,000 British Citizens, civilians, perished in the struggle, alongside almost 5000 aircrew on both sides. The Battle of Britain: Allies at War, throws a new perspective on the events of the summer and autumn of 1940. With Britain in crisis after a devastating defeat in Europe, the German Luftwaffe were tasked with destroying the RAF, ahead of the planned invasion of Britain.

Far from a duel in the skies between the elite aircraft of the belligerents, this was a conflict on multiple aerial platforms, crewed by a whole range of nationalities with a diverse set of skills. Little known is the fact that amongst Prime Minister Winston Churchills ‘Few’ who fought off the intruders, were a battle hardened band of Europeans – Czech, Polish and French pilots who joined with the RAF, and aircrew from all over the Commonwealth to turn the tide. Unlikely, underpowered and under performing aircraft were pushed into action, fuelling the issues of fatigue, mechanical failure, and chronic tactical miscalculation on both sides that took a bloody toll on the airmen of a whole generation. Using newly discovered archive recordings, rare footage, and unprecedented access to many of the surviving aircraft types, the team behind the acclaimed ‘Plane Resurrection’ series take us into the remarkable patchwork quilt of nations that made up the RAF squadrons. We visit some of the key sites, both on the ground and in the air, speak and fly with the pilots of the combatant types today.

This fascinating story not only covers events in the air on this 80th anniversary, but the history on the ground that brought this disparate group together. As surprising are the unlikely aircraft on both sides pressed into action in an increasingly desperate summer and autumn conflict. Amongst the other fascinating facts that this epic documentary throws up is the remarkable story of ill fated role of the Italian Air Force in what is otherwise perceived as a strictly Anglo German battle.

Featuring rare accounts of the action from the pilots who were there, unique historical insights and stunning aerial action, much of it in restored colour, across an hour we uncover remarkable little known secrets of the conflict, and the truth behind the contribution of pilots from all over the western world to the defence of Britain.