From July 10 to Oct. 31, 1940, the Luftwaffe embarked on an air campaign against the United Kingdom. Despite the German forces attacking Ally targets in Britain during this lengthy campaign, the attempt to take the island was a failure, and marked a crucial turning point in the Second World War.
On Sunday, 72 years after this epic air battle for Great Britain, 15 Wing Moose Jaw commemorated the event, as well as Canada’s important role in helping defend the United Kingdom from the Nazis.
“The Battle of Britain was fairly significant for the RCAF,” acting wing commander Lt.-Col. Scott Greenough said during the ceremony held in front of the Yellow Harvard pedestal aircraft at the local air force base.
Greenough told the audience at Sunday’s ceremony that the Battle of Britain was not just a significant victory for Allies against Germany, but also represented the first major war campaign fought entirely by air forces, utilizing integrated air defense for the first time, as well as the first use of high-tech fighter planes.
He said Canadians served extensively in capacities both in the air and on the ground during this period of the war.
“So the Battle of Britain, to me, represents the very best of what it means to be Canadian.”
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