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    Australians in the Battle of Britain



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    The Royal Air Force Museum notes, “During the Battle of Britain one fifth of Fighter Command’s aircrew came from overseas and 16 nations were represented in its squadrons.” Among those were men from Australia, who served in the RAF even before the Battle of Britain began. The Australian pilots of the early war represent the nature of a truly world war.

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    This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

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    39 Comments

    4. Charles Stribula on

      Please do an episode on the Robin Hood Toby Jug, on top shelf in background. Be sure to include its reference in the film “Twelve O’Clock High.” Thanks in advance.

    5. Sam King on

      A really fascinating ww2 RAAF subject is the Morotai Mutany. My Grandfather was RAAF aircrew attached to a US B24 liberator squadron, he was on Morotai when the mutany took place. Although he never took part in the mutany, he was a witness to it.

    6. Sam Drummond on

      The sad thing was though while Aussie served in the wars for Britain, when the war came to Australia they requested to return home to protect their home, Churchill refused to allow it, said we will get Australia back from the Japanese later. I can see his thinking but it must have been a blow to the men serving to not be allowed to return home to protect their own families.

    13. SIG442 on

      Wow… the pricetag on those watches is just insanely high and you don't get it even as soon as possible as they are in pre-order. I deeply honor the veterans of this specific war, but this will be a huge leap for someone that only has 60 Euro a week.

    15. Tim Lewis on

      Another superb episode good Sir!

      I know you must have too many projects in the works, but, have you thought about doing an episode on the RAAF Base Point Cook? I believe it is one of if not the oldest continuously operated air force base still in use.

    19. Geoffrey Heath on

      In my 'alternate history' instead of building the Wirraway, I had them selecting the Gloster monoplane (though the prototype would've had to fly earlier), probably later fitted with the P&W 1830 engine. Therefore when Australia offered squadrons for RAF use, they would would consist of monoplane experienced pilots. The transfer could be in time to participate in the Battle of Britain.

    21. Ashley Smith on

      Thank you for putting all this together ! My father was ground crew in the RAAF ( usually referred to as the R doubleA F) in WW2. Great to hear about more local lads from S.A.

    25. hodaka1000 on

      I had an 'adopted' great uncle Bob (Robert) who was an RAAF pilot seconded by the RAF to fly in China prior to the Japanese invasion of Malaya and bombing of Pearl Harbour
      He passed away in the 1950s and before I was born, the only other thing I know about him is a German woman was supposed to have tried to poison him while he was in China
      Adoption was more common then and I don't know if he used his original surname or if he would've used my mother's maiden name of Wilton
      I have an uncle and two cousins named after great uncle Bob

    26. Sean Lander on

      For all Australia gave Britain in the war, that sacrifice was repudiated in 1942 when the Royal Navy did a runner under Churchill’s direct order to leave the 7th Division unprotected on their return to defend Australia and its colonies from the Japanese. That order and the subsequent command to the Commonwealth to refuse any assistance to Australia was the end of the Empire.

    27. Hair on

      I’m Australian and my Australian great uncle Jock, flew for the RA during the Battle of Britain. He survived but was traumatized, his nervous were shot. He died of a heart attack roughly a decade after the war.

    39. Mal Young on

      Thankyou so much for this story, as all too often Australia's participation is overlooked. Your pronunciation of Australian place was very good although it is the (R double A F).

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