This research examines the Battle of Britain. For the United Kingdom, the European aspect of the Second World War lasted for a total of 70 months. At the outside, the Battle of Britain spanned only seven months of that total. For the most part, however, the Battle of Britain occurred over an even shorter time period--the three-and-one-half months (114 days) from 10 July 1940 through 31 October 1940 (Gelb, 1985). Further the second party the Battle--Germany--has never agreed that a Battle of Britain per se ever occurred (Taylor, 1978). Of course, the Germans acknowledge their bombing raids over southern England, and the consequent air combat between the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Luftwaffe during the relevant time period. What they do not accept is the British attribution of German military objectives associated with that activity, and the British assessment of the significance of that activity (Deighton, 1978). Lastly, the most senior members of the RAF at the time were in almost total disagreement with the manner in which the Battle of Britain was waged, and wasted little time once it was over in giving the boot to the man--Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding--most responsible for British success in the Battle (Deighton, 1978; Gelb, 1985; Wright, 1969).
In spite of its relatively short duration, the failure of the Germans to acknowledge either its decisiveness or their intent in it, and the eagerness of the British senior air staff to dismiss (or, at least, to obfuscate) its implications for the use and value of air power, the Battle of Britain is viewed by many historians as a decisive battle (Mason, 1969; Taylor, 1967), and as a turning point in the Second World War (Markl, 1984; Taylor, 1967). In this examination, the Battle of Britain is described, the intent of the parties to the Battle are assessed, the implications of the Battle for the use and value of air power are discussed, and conclusions are drawn with resp...