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Hi Dilip Thanks for your videos , they are very informative as both myself and my 2 sons have always been interested in the Battle of Britain. I am getting in touch with you today because today 17/09/24 is the anniversary of the death of sergeant pilot Eddie Egan, shot down over Bethersden in sept 1940. My son is Married to an Egan (Kate) and obviously has a whole related family. It seems that they didn't know much about Eddie until recently and may possibly look into having a marker or monument placed at the crash site, as many have done. Maybe you could enlighten us on how to go about this. Also for my own interest , do you know or can we find out who shot him down? Somebody must have made that claim on the day? Thanks Dilip!

I've seen spitfires fly a few times, the sound of the Merlin's is awesome. The first time was over Scarborough bay August bank holiday 87 at a scooter rally, thousands watched. Also what happened to the battle of Britain badge day? Mind you my bday is September 15 and I was born in 67. We have forgotten about the sacrifices

I had the pleasure of seeing the BBMF Lancaster flying over the car show I attended. Although it obviously wasn't a participant in the BoB, it was a poignant reminder of all the people who fought for Britain in WW2.

TY🙏🙏

Great episode. 👏👏👏👏

Fantastic as always Dilip. I always learn something new. Thanks for all of your efforts.

When I was in the ATC we always went collecting and went to church parade on the nearest Sunday.

It was my great pleasure to spend an afternoon with Wing Commander Chris Currant at his home in Somerset in the late 90s. I have a feeling he did pretty well in August 15th 1940. He flew with 605 Squadron...he was such a charming man.

Great episode. Thank you for everything you do.

Why BATTLE OF BRITAIN DAY HAS NEVER BEEN REWARDED AS A BANK HOLIDAY I WILL NEVER KNOW? The sacrifices those brave airmen made must never be forgotten.

It all does really as the old saying goes "One Swallow/Swift doesn't make a Summer".So was a continuous Battle from day one onwards. Another thing that so many never think about/consider is the fantastic effort that all the Ground crew did to keep all the planes flying and crews looked after working round the clock plus repairing the airfield and manning the defences and many was also killed while doing there duties.

Great post, always really important and informative, thank you for all the work that you put into it

Brilliant episode. Have always thought Baders wing had a big impact when it really mattered despite all the angst around it.

you are amazing,thank you for what you do.

Love your in-depth analysis and research.

Wow. Impressive. Thx for sharing. Greetings from 🇨🇦

Huge respect for your work, Dilip and, of course, for the legendary Sir Keith Park who proved his absolute mastery of air defensive tactics over south east England and Malta. It's fitting that his right to wear the clasp is now officially recognised. It's also fitting you mention the work that both he and Dowding did pre-war in establishing Britain's integrated air defence system which bore Dowding's name. That Dowding was largely unappreciated at the time is, I think, clear. However, I would be interested in your view on whether he was actually sacked as AOC-in-C, Fighter Command. There is evidence that Chief of the Air Staff, Newall had written to Dowding several times, extending him in service, before finally confirming his final date. While Dowding was unhappy about it is clear; he engaged in some acerbic correspondence with both Newall and Secretary of State for Air, Sinclair. Nevertheless, he had been given due notice. It is thought that Churchill offered Dowding the job as head of the British mission in the USA as a sop because he may have harboured some guilt over Dowding's treatment by the Air Ministry. Interested to have your views and the involvement of Sinclair and the ambitious Sholto Douglas in the affair. Apologies if you feel my points are naive, but interested to have your views, nonetheless.

I think these talks are amazing. The privilege of knowing many of the pilots is extraordinary and to be able to do it second hand via these talks is the best I will be able ever to do. I live in the USA now, but in the corner of my living room is a propellor blade from a MkIX Spitfire, I have the obligatory Shepherd Neame Luftwaffe poster signed by three pilots and best of all a certificate attesting to 50 minutes of flight in the Grey Nurse, a TR MkIX. You bring all this alive for me.

I don't very often listen to podcasts but this one was brilliant. I am so glad you had the foresight to save all those memories for us to enjoy and appreciate all those who gave so much.

Personally its not just the pilots and ground crew I'd loved to have spoken to (though I have spoken to aircrew etc who flew later in the war, Allied and German) - but the civilians on the ground. Especially the farmers who were working the land to help keep the island fed. Its hard to imagine them setting out for a days work on tractor or draft horses etc and seeing the unfolding drama overhead on a daily basis. The outcome of which would have been crashing aircraft, air crew in parachutes dead or alive, assisting the Home Guard or regular soldiers & Police in arresting Germans and in many cases their kitchen table in the farm house being the first point of some basic medical care to aircrew from all sides. Some Germans know doubt were ardent in their views about it all being over for the Bits in a few weeks and or some being very grateful for the care and probably surprised at the kindness shown! There has been a book 'Harvest of Messerschmitts' by Dennis Knight written in the past which attempts to cover this, but there is know doubt the voices of these people and their experiences have been lost as many of them would not have been young at the time. It reminds me of a Punch cartoon published on Sept. 4 1940, which shows a typically attired farmer outside his farm gate. He's been approached by a dapper gentleman down from 'London' whose asking directions. The farmer replies "Eglantine Cottage? Go down the lane past the Messerschmitt, bear left and keep on past the two Dorniers, then turn sharp right and it's just past the first Junkers." All in a days work for him re the sites and sounds. In the background of the cartoon you can see a Bf 109 and in the distance one of the Dorniers - beautifully drawn.

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So glad you had the vision to record these first hand accounts.

Hi there. I hope you have made plans to préserve these vital and historic documents, these memories for future generations. Best wishes from France..

Was Stanford Tuck not Adolf Gallands sons godfather? odd how men who once tried to kill each other became best friends

You did a good job,sadly the lads are no longer around ,i remember all my relatives and people who were around healthy and middle aged ,i liked my deputy head at academy but even more when i found out he was a flight engineer in a lancaster ,

amazing listen,thank you

Excellent !!!

I'm very glad you collated those memories and share them. Many thanks

Excellent work really good series, really interesting

Great video. Lest we forget - record everything. This is why I enjoyed reading LIVY, as he gave a day by day account in Ancient Rome.

Great piece of Battle of Britain history really nice and impressive thank you for posting

Nice job m8, thanks for all your work, stay vertical Eh!

the sticker on the nose tells me you have young people working on this plane, which means it will keep running into the future. Keep em coming, keep training them, keep encouraging them.

Totally agree, all of the fewshould and must be found as they took up the Kings shilling and fought and sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. Next of kins should know where their remains/ personnel effects are and returned too them for proper burial( out of the cold) so that noks! Can pay there respects get closure. How do I try and get copies of your books ,it would be interesting too read your entire works. How about locating all Bomber Commands missing aircrews upon an other interesting series???

Thank you for this insight on Peter Townsend. I'm one of those who knew him through The Crown. But after researching about the real Peter Townsend, it is clear they didn't even touch 1/8th of the man he was. If his books weren't enough to express his character, there is an anecdote shared to me by an artist who interviewed him in the 90s. He flew from Spain to France for it, however a day or so before he arrived, Peter was admitted to ICU. Peter had to talk to his doctor to let them do the interview. And they did, while still in the hospital bed. I wish this is the Peter people knew, a very thoughtful gentleman. And as you say, a humanitarian. I look forward to reading letters from the Few.

Retford is near worksop not Nottingham, Sheffield is nearer. I'm from Rotherham.

With the threat of imminent invasion, it's easy to see how yet another wreaked plane is not an immanent priority. However, I fail to understand the way in which aircraft can bury themselves and their occupants so deeply that nature immediately covers over the site.

TY 🙏🙏

Sad but a very interesting video, thanks.

Keep up the great work

Another excellent, interesting episode thank you for posting

Morning Dilip love the stories of people defy government to bring these lads home ,thanks to you and your friends mate ,I know other people go do these digs but none of us would ever know about these heroes of not for you and your knowledge and books, for example i tried for years to find out more about Sandy lane did i find out from some books? no i learned all about the lad from you so again well done

so so sad Dilip that these lads are still out there , it breaks my heart , i'm going to get a copy of your book " missing in action " on Amazon really looking forward to reading it , not an avid reader but when its a subject such as this its a must , thank you for all your hard work once again and take care Shaun.

Lest we forget.

Fantastic mementos, great piece of history

What a video Dilip.... I've been a bit Quixotic in my long defence of the Defiant over the years in YT.... A thankless task trying to convey the purpose of its design and subsequent misuse in a comments forum where the average attention span is exceeded by that of goldfish. I feel at long last vindicated in my efforts. Here's my much used comment that I copy and past in its defence wherever necessary. "A much maligned aircraft, the BP Defiant was NEVER meant to operate against ESCORTED bombers. At the time the British air ministry issued its original specification for a "turreted fighter" in 1935, the luftwaffe was operating from airbases within mainland Germany, and even from the closest bases to Britain the luftwaffe fighters did not possess the range to escort the bombers that far. This being the case the BP Defiant was designed to operate against unescorted bombers attacking Britain from across the North sea, a role that it would have handled admirably. The idea for the Defiant was NOT as an "air superiority" dogfighter, but it was instead designed as a "bomber Destroyer" that did NOT attack bombers from the most dangerous position for the attacking aircraft, that is from astern where the maximum degree of defensive fire on a bomber was directed, but was instead intended to fly ALONGSIDE the unescorted bombers and "hose" then from relative safety. A method of attack that it was ADMIRABLY suited to. Now fast forward to 1940. After the Wehrmacht had crushed the French they now possessed airbases a LOT closer to Britain than in 1935, meaning that German bombers WOULD now be escorted in the skies over Britain... and THAT was were the mistake was made, as it was decided to operate the Defiant against the now ESCORTED bomber formations, though it was quickly withdrawn from the role after resultant heavy losses. The fall of France and the stationing of the Luftwaffe fighters on airfields in the Pas de Calais COMPLETELY sank the idea of a heavy "bomber destroyer" fighter. It was simply desperation & crass stupidity by the British air ministry that they were then commited to daylight operations in the south of England in Summer 1940, BUT the original concept was sound at the time it was conceived. Though it did later operate with some success as a night fighter and then as a pioneering ECM aircraft and finally as a target tug for training air gunners." I'll be rewriting it and making a more fulsome answer in light of the information in yet another of your excellent productions. Keep up the good work, Mr Sarkar !!!

It’s a pity that this series cannot be found on Apple podcasts.

Thanks for the video

TY 🙏🙏

Interested in how, other than being turret equipped, efficient and advanced was the design of the Boulton Paul fighter. In many way more advances than the Hurricane, being as I understand it, fully metal skinned,m and not that much slower dispite the extra weight and crew.