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All of Britain now on 'Active Service'
18th July 1940: Everyone is now on the front line - and the government has to carefully consider the use of bombing raid casualty figures
The Glorious Few
17th July 1940: The fate of the nation - and a great deal more - lies in the hands of a small group of young men
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Hitler orders Operation Sealion
16th July 1940: Führer Directive No.16 calls for preparations which 'must be completed by the middle of August'
Brighton's first air raid
15th July 1940: The response of the Air Raid Precaution organisation is tested as attacks on civilian targets on the south coast are stepped up
The spectacle of the 'dogfight'
14th July 1940: The BBC broadcast a live radio report of a 'hot little engagement' over the straits of Dover, as RAF fighters intercept an attack on…
'Spitfire!'
13th July 1940: The fate of three pilots who feature in 'The Full Story of a Unique Battle of Britain Fighter Squadron'
Aberdeen air raid kills dozens
12th July 1940: The first major raid on the city is remembered as 'Black Friday' but it was just the first of many
Churchill visits the front line
11th July 1940: Churchill inspects the defences at Dover in the hope that the Luftwaffe will mount another big raid
The Battle of Britain 'officially begins'
10th July 194O: The day sees Luftwaffe attacks probing British air defences, as Churchill stresses any invasion can be met by the Navy - with 'Air…
The Battle of Calabria
9th July 1940: The Royal Navy and the Regia Marina clash in the Mediterranean
Morale is high in Britain
8th July 1940: Government monitoring of public attitudes finds people in a resilient mood even as air raids begin
Becoming 'war conscious'
7th July 1940: The British are adjusting to the threat of invasion, even if some find aspects of it humorous
© 2025 Martin Cherrett
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