Monday 22 November 2010

Club Meeting - Battle of Britain

70 years on it was appropriate this evening that we should be joined by Squadron Leader Richard Painter to talk to the Club about the Battle of Britain and the recent reappraisal of the debt owed not only to those famous few of fighter command but to the many hundreds of bomber command and of coastal command who also gave their lives during this period.
It was apparent from Richard’s talk that the victory over the skies of Britain in 1940 owed much to the visionary leadership of a few key individuals and to the detailed air defence preparations which they gave birth to and which culminated in a unrivalled defence network depriving the Luftwaffe of the air superiority which they had enjoyed over mainland Europe. Richard clearly has a great understanding of his subject and his presentation greatly moved the members of the Club. Our thanks to Club member Les Bouts for introducing Richard to us.