UK FILE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
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PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL British aircrews were fighting off the threat of German invasion during World War II when Britain s then Prime Minister Winston Churchill told parliament, Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. 70 years later to the day, the Battle of Britain and what has become one of Churchill s most famous speeches are remembered at the Churchill War Rooms. SHOWS:LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - AUGUST 1940) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)ENGLISH NARRATION1. PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL LEAVING DOWNING STREET AHEAD OF SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT2. U.S. REPRESENTATIVES IN LONDON3. VARIOUS OF BRITISH AIRCRAFT AND CREWS, AUDIO OF NEWSREEL COMMENTATOR REPORTING CHURCHILL S SPEECHUNIDENTIFIED LOCATIONS, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)ENGLISH NARRATION4. ENGLISH COAST5. VARIOUS OF AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR, BALLOONS BEING SHOT DOWN6. VARIOUS OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS FIRING ON THE GROUND7. VARIOUS OF AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF / IN THE AIR8. VARIOUS OF AIRCRAFT LANDING TO RE-FUEL AND RE-LOAD, AIRCREWS ON THE GROUND, WORKING ON PLANES9. VARIOUS OF AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF10. VARIOUS MORE OF AIR BATTLE11. MOTORBOAT RESCUING AIR CREWS FROM THE SEA12. VARIOUS OF GERMAN PRISONERS13. VARIOUS OF DESTROYED HOUSE14. VARIOUS OF WRECKAGE OF GERMAN PLANES15. BRITISH, COMMONWEALTH AND ALLIED AIR MEN ON THE GROUNDLONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 20, 2010) (ITN - NO ACCESS UK / ABC (Aust.) / TVNZ / .CO.UK SITES (INTERNET)) 16. DECORATED BATTLE OF BRITAIN VETERANS SEATED FOR 70TH ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR ROBERT HARDY READING EXCERPTS FROM WINSTON CHURCHILL S THE FEW SPEECH, SAYING: Almost a year has passed since the war began, and it is natural for us, I think, to pause on our journey at this milestone and survey the dark, wide field. Hitler is now sprawled over Europe. Our offensive springs are being slowly compressed, and we must resolutely and methodically prepare ourselves for the campaigns of 1941 and 1942. Two or three years are not a long time, when we have the honour to be the sole champion of the liberties of all Europe. We must not grudge these years of weary as we toil and struggle through them. The road to victory may not be so long as we expect. But we have no right to count upon this. Be it long or short, rough or smooth, we mean to reach our journey s end. 18. MEDALS ON VETERAN S JACKET19. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR ROBERT HARDY READING FROM WINSTON CHURCHILL S THE FEW SPEECH, SAYING: The gratitude of every home in our island, in our empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. 20. VARIOUS OF BATTLE OF BRITAIN VETERANS AT CEREMONY21. VARIOUS OF FLYPAST WITH WORLD WAR II-ERA PLANES FLYING OVER LONDON22. PEOPLE WATCHING FLYPAST, HOLDING SMALL BRITISH FLAGSSTORY: On August 20, 1940, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill travelled to the House of Commons to review the progress of the war. In his speech, Churchill praised the Battle of Britain fighter pilots who were fighting the German air force, the Luftwaffe, in the skies over the south of England. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few, Churchill said of the pilots. It was to become not only one of Churchill s most famous speeches, but one of the best remembered descriptions of the battle. The Battle of Britain was fought in the skies over southern England from July to October 1940. The forces of Nazi Germany had overrun most of western Europe by mid-summer and were preparing to invade Britain across the English Channel. To do this sucessfully, they had to gain command of the air, and this meant the destruction of the Royal Air Force fighter strength. Hitler s military advisers had promised him that this could be done in a month. At the beginning of the battle in July, German planes flew raids on shipping convoys in the channel and targets along the south coast of England. Later ports, radar stations, communications centres and airfields inland faced around-the-clock bombing. In September, the Germans switched to mass daylight attacks on London. Daylight attacks on London by fighter bombers continued until the end of October, but by then it was clear that the Luftwaffe had not succeeded in its mission to gain control of the air space. After the four-month battle, the RAF were undefeated and the invasion plans had been called off. 70 years to the day after Churchill s speech, a ceremony outside the Churchill War Rooms in London marked the anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Actor Robert Hardy recited passages from Churchill s speech. Almost a year has passed since the war began, and it is natural for us, I think, to pause on our journey at this milestone and survey the dark, wide field. Hitler is now sprawled over Europe. Our offensive springs are being slowly compressed, and we must resolutely and methodically prepare ourselves for the campaigns of 1941 and 1942. Two or three years are not a long time, when we have the honour to be the sole champion of the liberties of all Europe. We must not grudge these years of weary as we toil and struggle through them. The road to victory may not be so long as we expect. But we have no right to count upon this. Be it long or short, rough or smooth, we mean to reach our journey s end. Battle of Britain veterans, sometimes called the few , were in the audience listening to Churchill s words. The gratitude of every home in our island, in our empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. Around 540 RAF airmen were killed during the Battle of Britain.ENDS