This year marks the 80th anniversary of one of the most critical battles fought by this country in the whole of the 20th century.

As well as honouring the memory of the Few during this year of commemoration, the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust has launched an anniversary appeal to raise vital funds to support the charity’s ongoing work.

the Battle of Britain was important not just because it prevented an invasion by Hitler but also because of the influence it had on the progress of the Second World War.

Had the RAF lost the Battle and the Germans swept across the Channel, the D-Day invasion that took place 76 years go this June could not have been launched from the south coast, which would have been under Nazi control.

Without the invasion, and the bravery shown by the Allies on the Normandy beaches and beyond, it is unlikely that VE Day would have happened as early as 8 May the following year – an event that will be commemorated across the country in 2020 as the nation marks the 75th anniversary of… Read more