One of history's pivotal battles - the Battle of Britain - took place from July to October 1940. With European countries either already subjugated or uneasily "neutral", only Britain stood in the way of Hitler's quest for eventual world domination. He knew that he'd have to invade England, but couldn't do so unless he controlled the skies, so he sent more than 1,200 fighters and thousands of bombers in a frenzied four-month attempt to destroy the RAF, its bases, and the will of the British people. Against the Luftwaffe's might there were only some 600 Hurricane and Spitfire fighters, flown mostly by British and Canadian pilots. Other volunteers, including some who had escaped when their own countries were overrun, came from Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Poland, Rhodesia, South Africa and the USA.

Against overwhelming odds, these heroic few prevailed, and England remained the stronghold from which Allied forces could launch their own massive bombing attacks on Germany, and eventually invade and liberate Europe. Winston Churchill said of them: "Never in world history has so much been owed by so many to so few". He wasn't exaggerating! For more information, click on www.battle-of-britain.com .

One hundred and three Candian fighter pilots were among these glorious few, and 23 lost their lives. Some 250,000 Canadian men and women eventually served in the RCAF, but today their ranks are rapidly thinning, as our WWII veterans are now dying at the rate of about 100 per day.

In Canada the main ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary was held at the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa. Weather more or less cooperated, and in addition to a formal parade, wreath laying and tributes by dignitaries, the assembled RCAF veterans and hundreds of civilians were treated to a unique and colourful flypast after the ceremony.