Ref Number: 00191
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In 1940 this country was saved from invasion and subjugation due to the courage and valour of the pilots who flew in the Battle of Britain, this is the memory of the "few".
Ref Number: 00191
The courage and gallantry of the pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain more than seventy years ago spared this country from being invaded and subjugated. Those months, from June to October 1940, were undeniably pivotal in our country’s history. The pilots of Fighter Command’s defence of our country allowed us to go on to another historic event in our country’s history: D-Day.
Hitler’s command on July 16, 1940, to start preparing an invasion of the United Kingdom by the middle of August was to be preceded by the annihilation of the Royal Air Force. If the few had not prevailed, the residents of this country would have been subjected to the same atrocities as the rest of Europe. It is not difficult to imagine how bleak our lives would be if the Nazi philosophy of the ‘Master Race’ was applied to the rule of the United Kingdom. The facts show that these young men – or, more appropriately, boys – freed us from slavery.
These Brave aviators from our island?
Battle of Britain Surviving Pilots Who Were Later Killed In Action
Those That Lost Their Lives Over The Island, Or Off Our Shores
There are three more Island men who gave their lives. They are not B of B pilots. However, two of them were very close to being classed as B of B.
He is buried in the Ucimont Cemetery in Belgium. Hector and Annie Hayward, of 2 Woodbine Villas, St. John’s Road, Newport, were his parents. He lived at 21 Terrace Rd prior to his wedding. Edith Hayward was his wife. He was mistakenly reported as a prisoner of war by German officials. It took the Red Cross until February 1941 to verify his death on May 26, 1940. Mrs. Hayward’s maiden name will be remembered in Newport. In Node Hill, she ran a women’s clothes boutique.
Sgt Hayward’s granddaughter alerted her father while on vacation that she couldn’t find her grandfather’s name on the memorial at St Thomas’s Square, so he called me. Not all of individuals who died during the conflict are included on the Commonwealth Conflict Graves Commission’s website. It is preferable to contact their enquiries section. Sgt. Hayward’s name has been put to the memorial, which I am delighted to announce. Wight Masonary deserves my gratitude for sacrificing their time. As you go along St. John’s Road, keep an eye out for the cross atop St. John’s Church. It is a tribute to him, according to his relatives.
Note: All of 145 Sqn were hurricane pilots. FAA = Fleet Air Arm. KIA = Killed in Action. KIFA = Killed in flying accident.
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane, another historic British fighter, is owned by the Russell Group. The hurricane, like the P-40, was inferior to the most advanced German fighters, yet it served from the beginning until the end of the war. The hurricane is said to have engaged in more battles than any other British fighter and shot down more German planes during the Battle of Britain than all other British planes and air defences combined. The storm pictured here is equipped solely with machine guns, with up to twelve 0.303 guns in the wings, as was customary for these aircraft in the early phases of the war.
Mk IX Spitfire
Cannons installed on the wings of a Mk IX Spitfire. The spitfire, like early hurricanes, was initially armed with eight.303 calibre machine guns, but these were shortly upgraded with canon to match or surpass the lethality of similarly armed German aircraft.
Although it debuted about the same time as the hurricane, the spitfire’s performance was much greater, therefore it fought German fighters during the Battle of Britain while the hurricanes chased bombers.
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