SSAFA Battle of Britain Premium Bookmark

The Battle of Britain, which was waged and raged in the skies above southern England and the Channel between July and October 1940 is part of the British psyche and of the legend and lore of World War Two.

Referred to famously by Churchill as 'The Few', pilots and aircrew from not only the Royal Air Force, but also the Fleet Air Arm, danced their deathly ballet writing victories - and their epitaphs - with .0303 machine gun fire punctuated by the bark of 20mm cannon fire against the Nazi war machine in the guise of the Luftwaffe.

To honour the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, and the men of not only the United Kingdom, but also - deep breath - Poland*, New Zealand, Barbados, Northern Rhodesia, Czechoslovakia, Canada, Belgium, Australia, Free France, the Republic of Ireland, the US, Southern Rhodesia, Jamaica, and Newfoundland, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has produced an exclusive range of T-shirts, mugs, and other items.

Every purchase will support SSAFA's work for the serving personnel and veterans, and their families, of today, tomorrow, and yesterday including - though now dwindling in number - veterans of World War Two.

*Poland, after the UK, contributed the largest contingent of pilots to the Battle of Britain, around 145 men who served in the legendary No. 303 Squadron RAF and others.

ARTWORK:

• Featuring Supermarine Spitfire Mk.II P7350, the oldest airworthy Spitfire and the only one left that took part in the Battle of Britain. She is believed to be the 14th aircraft of 11,989 built at the Castle Bromwich 'shadow' factory, Birmingham. P7350 was Issued to 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron at Wittering and then Hornchurch on 6th September 1940 during the Battle of Britain, and wore the Squadron code "UO" and the individual aircraft letter "T". During the Battle of Britain P7350 was known to have been flown by Polish pilot Ludwik Martel.

• Featuring Hawker Hurricane Mark I R4118 is one of the most historically significant aircraft from the Battle of Britain. Delivered new to 605 Squadron on 17th August 1940, it flew 49 combat sorties and shot down five enemy aircraft. Piloted by several notable RAF aces, Bunny Currant, Archie Milne and Bob Foster, R4118 played a crucial role in Britain's air defence. Today, it remains one of the few surviving Hurricanes from that pivotal conflict. Shown wearing code Squadron code "UP" and the individual aircraft letter "W".

PRODUCT:

• Dimensions: (H) 21.0 x (W) 5.5cm
• SSAFA logo on reverse
• Rounded corners
• Blue ribbon

This SSAFA Battle of Britain Premium Bookmark is a great way of showing your support with all profits helping support serving personnel, veterans and their families in their time of need, so they never have to battle alone.