Blast From The Past: Luftwaffe launches Battle of Britain

It was on this day at dawn, 62 years ago in 1940 that what was later to be announced by Prime Minister Winston Churchill as the beginning of the Battle of Britain commenced. Triggered by the first major air attack at dawn by the German Air Force on the south and east coasts of England, the big onslaught began later in the day when two shipping convoys were targeted. Outnumbered and unprepared, British fighter pilots retaliated with a vengeance taking out 14 enemy planes and wreaking havoc with 23 more leaving English skies calm and clear of German bombers.