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RAF DET recognizes Battle of Britain victory, sacrifices

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Clinton Atkins
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The sound of gravel beneath dozens of footsteps could be heard thundering down under the soft, orange-red hue of the setting sun. The solemn faces in the formation tell a story of a triumphant feat passed down through the decades. 

The harmony of brass and percussion instruments sounds the beginning of a ceremony to pay homage to the Royal Air Force and Allied Forces sacrifices in a decisive victory in World War II. 

The Battle of Britain Sunset Ceremony, hosted by the RAF Detachment, was held at the Memorial Plaza here Monday. 

"The Battle of Britain represents the first time the German forces met their match and were stopped," said RAF DET Flight Lt. Andy Kershaw. "As a very young force in 1940, the RAF was barely 22 years old so we've gone from very little - a collection of amateur pilots, engineers and a belief in what we could accomplish - to a service capable of fighting a full-scale war." 

In the beginning of World War II, Nazi Germany was sweeping across Europe causing the remaining Allied Forces to fall back to the United Kingdom. To achieve such a swift advance, Adolph Hitler initiated the Blitzkrieg tactic (German for lightning war), which is an all-out attack on opposing forces. 

In order to launch a successful invasion of the U.K., the Luftwaffe (Nazi Germany Air Force) had to establish air superiority. With the threat from Operation Sea Lion in July 1940, the Nazis geared up for what would have been the final blow to the Allied Forces. 

"Our backs were against the wall...we had nowhere to run...we had to win," Flight Lieutenant Kershaw said. "If we lost, we could potentially be speaking German right now!" 

The RAF was outnumbered four to one by the Luftwaffe, but despite the insurmountable odds decisive advantages were soon realized. 

"Radar gave us a huge advantage," Flight Lieutenant Kershaw said. "It allowed Fighter Command to use the RAF's limited assets in the most effective way to counter the German attacks - to use modern terminology it was a true force multiplier." 

Another important factor in the battle was "home field advantage." 

"With the RAF fighting over home territory, our aircraft could remain on patrol or in the fight for longer, simply due to the fact that we used less fuel than the Germans who had to fly, in some cases, considerable distances to get to their targets in the UK," he said. "When their fuel ran low they had to leave the fight giving us further opportunities to attack their bomber formations." 

Many other nations including Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Ireland, Jamaica, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Poland, Rhodesia, South Africa and the United States came together to fight alongside British aircrews to overcome adversity. 

"Many squadrons were not purely British," the flight lieutenant said. "With morale being so important, the blend of national characteristics that many squadrons had was a definite strength." 

The fervor and ferocity displayed by the Allied Forces during the Battle of Britain forced a turn of the tides in World War II. 

"Every man and woman, either in the air or on the ground, was fully committed," Flight Lieutenant Kershaw said. "The battle stands out in history as our finest moment. For us as a service it gives us a sense of pride when we stand alongside of the Royal Navy and British Army." 

Remembering the lessons learned from a nation's past is important to the present and future of any service, he said. 

"We have to take strength in our history," Flight Lieutenant Kershaw said. "A lot of the lessons experienced through World Wars I and II, and various conflicts since then, still apply today. We should not ever forget, hence the importance of celebrating Sept. 15."
Recognizing a service's heritage also motivates junior servicemembers. 

"I think we can take great inspiration from [the accomplishments of the Battle of Britain]," said RAF DET Senior Aircraftman Daniel Hickman. "It's massive for everyone in the RAF to be a part of such an illustrious organization." 

Servicemembers from different nations filled the seats at the ceremony to support the RAF. 

"As a member nation of the Coalition Forces fighting this Global War on Terror, any opportunity we have to participate and show our support of our Coalition partners is paramount," said Command Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Schwiesow, 379 AEW command chief. "We all have storied histories of our collective militaries and the accomplishments they have attained through the years of battle. It is our obligation and responsibility to keep these histories alive. We owe this homage to our partners for sacrifices served and to our future forces as a model to emulate. 

"Regardless of the uniform we wear or the country we serve, we are brothers and sisters in the profession of arms, and our support for each other should be unwavering," he said.