Known as the first major battle to be decided in the air, the Battle of Britain was fought between August and September 1940.

It was the aerial conflict between British and German air forces in the skies over the United Kingdom in a battle for the English Channel. During the battle, the Royal Air Force defeated the Luftwaffe's attempt to gain control of the airspace over southern England and saved Britain from German invasion and conquest.

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the battle, the Museum of Flight in Seattle is holding a Battle of Britain Day of Remembrance on Sept. 18 and 19.  The scheduled events will include lectures, discussions, a living history show, exhibits, and a tour of airplanes flown throughout the battle. 

Admission for the event is $10 for general admission and $5 for members on Sept. 18, and on Sept. 19 the event is free with paid museum admission.

Schedule of events:

 
Sept. 18  
8:20-9:30 a.m. - "Command and Control, The Dowding Factor" is a lecture by Mike Lavelle, an author and aviation historian and the Museum of Flight director of Public Programs.  This lecture will include information about how the Royal Air Force overcame Germany's Luftwaffe.

9:30-10:30 a.m. - "Assessing British Victories" is a review by John Alcorn, an author and aviation historian who will discuss his extensive research of victories scored by the Royal Air Force  squadrons during the Battle of Britain.

10:45-11:45 a.m. - A discussion called the "Early Design and Development of the Hurricane and Spitfire Aircraft" will be led by Museum of Flight docent Barry Latter.  He will discuss the importance of the two British frontline fighters to Royal Air Force fighter squadrons.

1-2 p.m. - "A Few of the Few" is a lecture that will be led by John Sessions, the founder of the Historic Flight Foundation and a Spitfire owner and pilot.  He will talk about the characteristics of the American pilots serving in the Royal Air Force in the summer of 1940, their motivation, and the unusual sacrifices they were forced to make to meet the Germans in Europe rather than in America.

2:15-3:15 p.m. - A lecture called "German Perspective" will be led by John Little, who is an author and aviation historian as well as the Museum of Flight assistant curator.  This discussion will include talk about how historians have elevated the Battle of Britain's significance and give insight into the German Luftwaffe.

3:15-4:15 p.m. - "The Other Few: International Squadrons" is a lecture led by Dan Hagedorn, an internationally known author and aviation historian and the Museum of Flight senior curator.   This discussion will include talk about assistance Britain received from the Allied nations.

4:15-5:15 p.m. - "The Battle of Britain in American Context and Perspective" is a lecture led by Richard Hallion, an internationally known author and aviation historian.  Hallion analyzes American interest in the battle, what lessons were learned, and how this was reflected in subsequent American air operations and force development.

5:15-5:30 p.m. Wrap Up

Sunday, Sept. 19
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - "Tip to Tail Tours" of Battle of Britain Aircraft, a tour of the types of aircraft flown in the Battle of Britain by Barry Latter, a Museum of Flight docent.

2 p.m. - The Amazing Skies Theater troupe will give a performance called "The Battle of Britain: One Family's Story."  This show presents the great air battle from the perspective of a family whose lives were changed by it.

For more information about the activities of the day, visit the Web site at www.museumofflight.org.