Foreign contribution

Apart from the 2543 British pilots the Royal Air Force also accepted foreign pilots from the beginning of the war. The RAF roll of honour for the Battle of Britain recognises[1] 510 overseas pilots as flying at least one authorised operational sortie with an eligible unit of the Royal Air Force or Fleet Air Arm during the period 10 July to 31 October 1940. Combatants United Kingdom Germany Commanders Hugh Dowding Hermann Göring Albert Kesselring Strength initially 700; grew to nearly 1000 by the end of the Battle. ...

The RAF's statistics differ from other sources.

Polish contribution

On 11 June 1940, the Polish Government in Exile signed an agreement with the British Government to form a Polish Army in Britain and a Polish Air Forces in Great Britain. The first two (of an eventual ten) Polish fighter squadrons went into action in August 1940. Four Polish squadrons took part in the battle (300 and 301 Bomber Squadrons; 302 and 303 Fighter Squadrons) with 89 Polish pilots. Together with more than 50 Poles fighting in British squadrons 147 Polish pilots defended the British sky. 30 were killed in the battle. June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... The Government of the Polish Republic in Exile was the government of Poland after the country had been occupied by Germany and the Soviet Union during September-October 1939. ... The Polish Air Forces (Polskie Siły Powietrzne) was a name of Polish Air Forces formed in the United Kingdom and France during World War II. Banner of the Polish Air Forces in Great Britain Monument to fallen Polish airmen; Warsaw, Pole Mokotowskie After the collapse of France in... The 300th Land of Masovia Bomber Command ( Polish 300 Dywizjon Bombowy Ziemi Mazowieckiej, Royal Air Force nomenclature ) was a Polish World War II bomber unit operating from airbases in the United Kingdom. ... The No. ... No. ...

Polish pilots were among the most experienced in the battle, many having vast pre-war flying experience and had already fought in the Polish September Campaign in Poland and the Battle of France. One must also point out the high level of pilot training in the pre-war Poland. 303 Squadron named after the Polish hero General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, achieved the highest number of kills (126) of all the fighter squadrons engaged in the Battle of Britain, even though he only joined the combat on August 30. The 147 Polish pilots claimed 201 aircraft shot down. To put things in perspective, the top 30 scoring Allied aces shot down 376 aircraft, i.e. 1% of pilots were responsible for 13.5% of the total. Pilot Officer Eric Lock of 41 Squadron was the top claimant with 21 (1st July-1st November 1940.) S/L W. Urbanowicz of 303 Sqn was top Polish scorer with 13 claims. Tony Glowacki was famous at the time as the only RAF pilot in the Battle to Britain to shoot down five German planes in one day, which he achieved on August 24. Combatants Poland Germany Soviet Union Slovakia Commanders Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Fedor von Bock (Army Group North) Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group South) Ferdinand ÄŒatloÅ¡ (Field Army Bernolak) Strength 39 divisions 16 brigades 4,300 guns 880 tanks 400 aircraft Total: 1,000,000[1] 56 German divisions, 33+ Soviet... Tadeusz Kościuszko. ... August 30 is the 242nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (243rd in leap years), with 123 days remaining. ... August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ...

Despite all of Poland's contributions to Britain, neither Poland nor Polish pilots were recognised for their efforts after WWII came to an end. The Allies were too intimidated by Stalin to recognise Polish efforts. Polish pilots were not even allowed to march in the victory parade in London after WWII ended.

New Zealand Contribution

The Royal New Zealand Air Force was set up as a separate service in 1937 but numbered less than 1200 by September 1939, although training plans had resulted in 100 trained pilots being sent on to the RAF. The RNZAF main objective was to supply trained aircrew for service in the RAF under the Empire Air Training Plan. An annual rate of 1,500 fully trained pilots was reached by January 1941. The RAF recognises 127 Fighter Command aircrew from New Zealand serving in the Battle. Several New Zealanders became high scorers, including P/O Colin Gray (No 54 Sqn) with 14 claims, F/O Brian Carbury (603 Sqn) 14 claims and P/O 'Al' Deere (54 Sqn) 9 claims. The most prominent New Zealander was AVM Keith Park, in overall command of No. 11 Group, which was tasked with the defence of London. [2] London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ...

Canadian contribution

Many Canadians served in the squadrons of Spitfires and Hurricanes which repulsed the Luftwaffe in the summer of 1940. In fact, although the RAF only recognises 83 Canadian pilots as flying on fighter operations during the Battle of Britain, the RCAF claims the actual figure was over 100 and that of those 23 died and 30 were killed later in the war. Also another 200 Canadian pilots fought with the RAF's Bomber and Coastal Commands during the period and approx 2,000 Canadians served as groundcrew.[3], [4]. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was the air force of Canada from 1924 until 1968 when the three branches of the Canadian military were merged into the Canadian Forces. ...

Of these, 26 were in the RCAF's No. 1 Squadron on Hurricanes, which arrived in Britain soon after Dunkirk with 27 Officers and 314 ground staff. This squadron would later be re-numbered as the RCAF's 401 "City of Westmount" Squadron, in line with the RAF's policy of numbering Dominion units flying with the RAF in the 400-series to avoid confusion with similarly-numbered RAF units (this numbering system is still used by Canadian air squadrons to honour their World War II contributions). A dominion, often Dominion, is the territory or the authority of a dominus (a lord or master). ...

1 Squadron made an inauspicious start to its service with Fighter Command, when on August 24th 1940 two of its Hurricanes mistook a flight of Bristol Blenheims for Ju-88's, shooting one down with the loss of its crew- a tragic example of what is now known as friendly fire. No. 1 became the first RCAF unit to engage enemy planes in battle when it met a formation of German bombers over southern England on August 26, 1940, claiming three kills and four damaged with the loss of one pilot and one plane. By mid-October the squadron had claimed 31 enemy aircraft destroyed and 43 probables or damaged for the loss of 16 aircraft and three pilots. Friendly fire (fratricide or non-hostile fire) is a term originally adopted by the United States military in reference to an attack on friendly forces by other friendly forces,[1] which may be deliberate (e. ...

On the second day of the battle, July 11, the Canadians suffered their first fighter casualty. In a Luftwaffe attack on the naval base at Portland, PO. D. A. Hewitt of Saint John, New Brunswick, flying a 501 Squadron Hurricane, attacked a Dornier bomber and was hit himself. His plane plunged into the sea. Another Canadian pilot, Richard Howley, died eight days later; A. W. Smith and Hugh Tamblyn had narrow escapes. Both were in 141 Squadron and flew the Defiant, a two-seater hunchback with an impressive power-operated gun turret that limited its aerodynamics. July 11 is the 192nd day (193rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 173 days remaining. ...

Other Canadians were spread across RAF squadrons. Leading to some confusion, the dispersed Canadian airmen included one who flew with the Poles in 303 Squadron.

12 Canadian pilots of the Royal Air Force flew with No 242 Squadron at various times through the battle, which had been formed in 1939. On August 30, under the command of Squadron Leader Douglas Bader nine 242 squadron planes met a hundred enemy aircraft over Essex. Attacking from above, the squadron claimed 12 victories for no loss. Douglas Bader Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader CBE DSO and Bar DFC and Bar FRAeS DL LegH CdeG RAF (21 February 1910–5 September 1982); surname pronounced ) was a successful fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. ...

Canadians also shared in repulsing the Luftwaffe's last major daylight attack. On September 27, 303 Squadron RAF and 1 Squadron RCAF attacked the first wave of enemy bombers. Seven enemy planes were claimed destroyed, one probably destroyed and seven damaged.

The top Canadian scorer was F/L H.C.Upton of 43 Squadron who claimed 10.25 aircraft shot down.

Czechoslovakian contribution

There were also a lot of Czechoslovak pilots in the Battle of Britain. Two Czechoslovak fighter squadrons 310 and 312, were formed early enough in 1940 to take part in the battle. Together with Czechoslovak pilots serving in other RAF units, a total of 87 Czechoslovaks served claiming almost 60 air kills. 8 pilots were killed. The top Czech scorer was Sgt. Josef Frantisek, flying with 303 Polish Squadron who claimed 17 confirmed kills. Josef František Sergeant Josef František, (October 7, 1914 - October 8, 1940) was a Czech fighter pilot, a flying ace of the Polish Air Force of the World War II. Josef František joined the Czechoslovak airforce in 1936. ...

Despite all of Czechoslovakia's contributions to Britain, neither Czechoslovakia nor Czechoslovakian pilots were recognised for their efforts after WWII came to an end. The Allies were too intimidated by Stalin to recognise Czechoslovakian efforts. Czechoslovakian pilots were not even allowed to march in the victory parade in London after WWII ended.

Australian contribution

Australia had always been a close supporter of Britain, and when war was declared in 1939, Prime Minister Robert Menzies supported Britain in her war effort. However, due to the small size of the Royal Australian Air Force at the time, the Australian contribution was low at approximately 22 aircrew, the majority of whom had joined the pre-war RAF. (The first RAAF fighter squadron did not serve in Europe until mid 1941) The top Australian pilot was F/L P. Hughes of 234 Squadron who claimed 14 kills before his death in September 1940. Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, KT, AK, CH, FRS, QC (20 December 1894 – 14 May 1978), Australian politician, was the twelfth and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia, serving eighteen and a half years. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ...

Irish contribution

Among the dozen or so Irish pilots who flew in the battle was Dubliner Brendan "Paddy" Finucane, an air ace who went on to claim a total of 32 enemy aircraft before being shot down and killed in 1942. He became operational in July of 1940 and shot down his first Bf 109 on 12 August, getting a second Bf 109 the following day. In a 51-day period in 1941 he claimed 16 Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighters shot down, while flying with an Australian squadron. "Paddy" Finucane went on to become the youngest wing commander in the RAF, an appointment he received at the age of 21. Despite his early death, his score remains the second highest of the "Home nation" RAF aces. Wing Commander Brendan Eamon Fergus Finucane, DSO, DFC and two bars (1920 - 1942), known as Paddy Finucane, was a Irish born RAF fighter pilot. ... August 12 is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

United States contribution

The RAF recognises 7 aircrew personnel from the United States as having taken part in the Battle of Britain. P/O WML ('Billy') Fiske saw service with No. 601 Squadron, claiming one kill before dying of wounds on the 17th August 1940. P/O AG 'Art' Donahue served with 64 squadron, while 609 squadron had a trio of American pilots see action through August and September (P/O's 'Andy' Mamedoff, VC 'Shorty' Keogh and EQ 'Red' Tobin). P/O PH Leckrone was with 616 Sqn, while P/O JD Haviland served in 151 Squadron. Only the latter pilot survived the war. Ultimately three squadrons of RAF pilots from the United States, known as Eagle squadrons fought with the RAF, although the first ( No. 71 squadron) became operational in February 1941, well after the main daylight battles. The Eagle Squadrons were Royal Air Force fighter squadrons formed during World War II from American volunteer pilots. ...

American high octane gasoline

Perhaps the most important American contribution was high octane gasoline, invented by Standard Oil of Indiana; the Germans never matched it. The British used 100 octane fuel, the Germans had 87 octane. This gave the British planes at extreme performance an extra rate of climb, higher speed, and greater maneuverability. ^[1]

Palestinian contribution

The RAF's official "Battle of Britain Roll of Honour" recognises 1 Palestinian, Pilot Officer George Ernest Goodman, a Jew from Palestine, then a British Mandate territory. The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... On June 24, 1922 the League of Nations agreed upon a document called the Palestine Mandate. ... Mandates in the Middle east and Africa. ...

The Palestinian contribution is also sometimes described as the "Israeli contribution", although the State of Israel was not proclaimed until 1948. David Ben Gurion (First Prime Minister of Israel) publicly pronouncing the Declaration of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

At least 32 (probably 43) Jewish airmen took part in the Battle of Britain (just over 1% of participants). Over three-quarters were British Jews, the rest fighting in the American, Belgian, Canadian, Czechoslovak, Polish and South African contingents (Martin Sugarman, [5]). Combatants United Kingdom Germany Commanders Hugh Dowding Hermann Göring Albert Kesselring Strength initially 700; grew to nearly 1000 by the end of the Battle. ...

Footnotes

1. ^ Leonard M. Fanning, "Petroleum" in Walter Yust, ed. 10 Eventful Years (1947) 3:512,