Battle of Britain Begins: Luftwaffe Attacks Channel
Hermann Goring's Luftwaffe launched its first major attack against British shipping in the English Channel on July 10, 1940, beginning the Battle of Britain. The RAF was outnumbered roughly three to one in fighters, but it had two decisive advantages the Germans didn't fully appreciate: radar stations along the coast that detected incoming raids, and the Dowding system that coordinated fighter response in real time. Over the next four months, German losses mounted because pilots shot down over England became prisoners while RAF pilots who bailed out could be flying again by afternoon. This was the first major campaign fought entirely in the air, and Germany's failure to achieve air superiority forced Hitler to cancel his invasion plans.
July 10, 1940
86 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on July 10
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