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N0KFQ > TODAY 10.07.14 15:00l 41 Lines 1768 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 25838_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Jul 10
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Sent: 140710/1355Z 25838@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.60
Jul 10, 1940:
The Battle of Britain begins
On this day in 1940, the Germans begin the first in a long series
of bombing raids against Great Britain, as the Battle of Britain,
which will last three and a half months, begins.
After the occupation of France by Germany, Britain knew it was
only a matter of time before the Axis power turned its sights
across the Channel. And on July 10, 120 German bombers and
fighters struck a British shipping convoy in that very Channel,
while 70 more bombers attacked dockyard installations in South
Wales. Although Britain had far fewer fighters than the
Germans-600 to 1,300-it had a few advantages, such as an
effective radar system, which made the prospects of a German
sneak attack unlikely. Britain also produced superior quality
aircraft. Its Spitfires could turn tighter than Germany's ME109s,
enabling it to better elude pursuers; and its Hurricanes could
carry 40mm cannon, and would shoot down, with its American
Browning machine guns, over 1,500 Luftwaffe aircraft. The German
single-engine fighters had a limited flight radius, and its
bombers lacked the bomb-load capacity necessary to unleash
permanent devastation on their targets. Britain also had the
advantage of unified focus, while German infighting caused
missteps in timing; they also suffered from poor intelligence.
But in the opening days of battle, Britain was in immediate need
of two things: a collective stiff upper lip-and aluminum. A plea
was made by the government to turn in all available aluminum to
the Ministry of Aircraft Production. "We will turn your pots and
pans into Spitfires and Hurricanes," the ministry declared. And
they did.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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