Bill Howard

RAF Pilots with Scramble Bell Perhaps the most iconic item associated with the RAF involvement in the 1940 Battle of Britain are the large bronze Station (or “Scramble”) bells that once adorned British airfields. These impressive bells were used to signal incoming enemy raids to waiting RAF pilots. From the Imperial War Museum to the museums at the old Tangmere and Duxford airfields, the display of these bells often attracts the awe of visitors, and the envy of collectors.

Photograph of RAF Pilot Bill Millington (left) and Tom Neil. The RAF pilot Tom Neil recalled that Bill Millington always had an affinity for animals. The diary of another Battle of Britain pilot, George Barclay included several photos of Millington with various mascots that he introduced to No. 249 Squadron. There was a dog, “Pipsqueak” and a duck “Wilfred” that became famous mascots of the embattled fighter squadron. In this photo, Pilot Officer Millington is seen in the

The German Luftwaffe considered August 13, 1940 the beginning of the Battle of Britain. It was called “Aldertag” or “Eagle Day,” and was marked by a series of concentrated air attacks launched against Essex, Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, England. German aviation forces carried out a total of more than 1400 missions and RAF Fighter Command flew more than 720 combat sorties in response. The strategy behind the German attack was to test the British defenses to gauge whether or n