By By Christopher Szabo Sep 18, 2010 in World London - This week saw commemorations of the Battle of Britain in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries worldwide. The “Battle ” reached its height in mid-September 70 years ago. On Thursday, September 16, a statue of New Zealander, Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, was unveiled in Waterloo Palace, London. Sir Keith was in command of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command’s number 11 Group, which was responsible for defending London and south east England, according to the official RAF The As a result, German dictator Adolf Hitler announced two days later that the invasion of Britain would be postponed. Because Germany was unable to get air superiority over Britain, an invasion was out of the question. The term is attributed to Britain’s wartime Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, who What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin . This was the first major defeat of Nazi Germany in WWII and many consider it the turning point of the war, which ended after much more bloodshed, five years later. The pilots who bore the brunt of the fight are referred to as “The Few,” based again on a statement by Churchill. “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" Out of 2,936 RAF pilots, 595 were not British. The majority of the foreigners (145) were Polish, many of whom had fought over their own country in 1939 at the beginning of the war and over France earlier in 1940. Others came from New Zealand (127), Canada (112), and 88 from the then Czechoslovakia. There were 32 Australians, 28 Belgians, 25 South Africans, 13 Frenchmen, 10 from Ireland, seven Americans and one each from Jamaica, Palestine and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The "opposition", Germany's main fighter throughout WWII, the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Wikipedia In the Stringbag, the official magazine of the Friends of the South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum, Phil Scanlan writes about the 25 South Africans who officially flew in the Battle. In addition, like Sir Keith Park, another of the commanders , that of number 10 Group, Sir Quintin Brand, was South African. Scanlan writes of South Africa’s top scorer in the war, Group Captain Adolph Gysbert Malan, who not surprisingly, did not use his first name and was known from his earlier career as “Sailor”: Group Captain A.G. "Sailor" Malan. South African Military History Society Sailor Malan has been described as the RAF’s greatest Battle of Britain pilot, whilst (fighter ace) Al Deere reckoned he was the finest shot he’d ever seen. Malan became famous for his “10 Rules of Air Fighting” which was sent to fighter bases through the UK. The rules are: 1. Until you see the whites of his eyes. Fire short bursts of one to two seconds only when your sights are definitely "ON". 2. Whilst shooting think of nothing else, brace the whole of your body: have both hands on the stick: concentrate on your ring sight. 3. Always keep a sharp lookout. "Keep your finger out". 4. Height gives you the initiative. 5. Always turn and face the attack. 6. Make your decisions promptly. It is better to act quickly even though your tactics are not the best. 7. Never fly straight and level for more than 30 seconds in the combat area. 8. When diving to attack always leave a proportion of your formation above to act as a top guard. 9. INITIATIVE, AGGRESSION, AIR DISCIPLINE, and TEAMWORK are words that MEAN something in Air Fighting. 10. Go in quickly - Punch hard - Get out! All that was 70 years ago, but historians say if the battle had gone the other way, Nazi Germany might have won the war, or at least been far harder to defeat. Even so, it took another five years for that war to end. Sunday, September 19, will see seven former pupils of Malvern College, Herefordshire, southwest England, be remembered at a special service, the Malvern Gazette reports.On Thursday, September 16, a statue of New Zealander, Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, was unveiled in Waterloo Palace, London. Sir Keith was in command of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command’s number 11 Group, which was responsible for defending London and south east England, according to the official RAF website. The Battle of Britain refers to a series of air battles fought over most of Britain in 1940 between the Nazi German air force, or Luftwaffe, and the RAF but which saw south east England bear the brunt. The fighting lasted from July 10 to October 31 and reached its height on September 15, when British forces, including anti-aircraft guns as well as fighter aircraft, shot down 60 invading German aircraft, both bombers and fighters. The RAF lost 26 planes.As a result, German dictator Adolf Hitler announced two days later that the invasion of Britain would be postponed. Because Germany was unable to get air superiority over Britain, an invasion was out of the question.The term is attributed to Britain’s wartime Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, who said after Germany had conquered France:This was the first major defeat of Nazi Germany in WWII and many consider it the turning point of the war, which ended after much more bloodshed, five years later.The pilots who bore the brunt of the fight are referred to as “The Few,” based again on a statement by Churchill.Out of 2,936 RAF pilots, 595 were not British. The majority of the foreigners (145) were Polish, many of whom had fought over their own country in 1939 at the beginning of the war and over France earlier in 1940.Others came from New Zealand (127), Canada (112), and 88 from the then Czechoslovakia. There were 32 Australians, 28 Belgians, 25 South Africans, 13 Frenchmen, 10 from Ireland, seven Americans and one each from Jamaica, Palestine and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).In the Stringbag, the official magazine of the Friends of the South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum, Phil Scanlan writes about the 25 South Africans who officially flew in the Battle. In addition, like Sir Keith Park, another of the commanders , that of number 10 Group, Sir Quintin Brand, was South African.Scanlan writes of South Africa’s top scorer in the war, Group Captain Adolph Gysbert Malan, who not surprisingly, did not use his first name and was known from his earlier career as “Sailor”:Malan became famous for his “10 Rules of Air Fighting” which was sent to fighter bases through the UK. The rules are:1. Until you see the whites of his eyes. Fire short bursts of one to two seconds only when your sights are definitely "ON".2. Whilst shooting think of nothing else, brace the whole of your body: have both hands on the stick: concentrate on your ring sight.3. Always keep a sharp lookout. "Keep your finger out".4. Height gives you the initiative.5. Always turn and face the attack.6. Make your decisions promptly. It is better to act quickly even though your tactics are not the best.7. Never fly straight and level for more than 30 seconds in the combat area.8. When diving to attack always leave a proportion of your formation above to act as a top guard.9. INITIATIVE, AGGRESSION, AIR DISCIPLINE, and TEAMWORK are words that MEAN something in Air Fighting.10. Go in quickly - Punch hard - Get out!All that was 70 years ago, but historians say if the battle had gone the other way, Nazi Germany might have won the war, or at least been far harder to defeat. Even so, it took another five years for that war to end. 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