WWII 1940 Dated "Battle of Britain" RAF Fighter Command British Pilot Navigational Map
WWII 1940 Dated "Battle of Britain" RAF Fighter Command British Pilot Navigational Map
This heavily used and RAF pilot annotated WWII map was used during the infamous Battle of Britain by a Royal Air Force pilot of the RAF Fighter Command. The Battle of Britain was a major air campaign fought largely over southern England in the summer and autumn of 1940. After the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk and the Fall of France, Germany planned to gain air superiority in preparation for an invasion of Great Britain. The pilots of RAF Fighter Command, flying iconic aircraft including the Hurricane and Spitfire, were supported by a vast network of ground crew during the battle. Ultimately, the Luftwaffe was defeated by Fighter Command, forcing Adolf Hitler to abandon his invasion plans.
The official “Director of Air Ministry” red stamp located on the lower right of the map is dated “1 April 1940”. This map was used in the successful defense of Great Britain against unremitting and destructive air raids conducted by the German air force (Luftwaffe) from July through September 1940. What makes this map even more special is the heavily used and RAF pilot annotated markings.