After the fall of France in June 1940, the Channel became Britain's front line. The Luftwaffe opened the Battle of Britain in July by attacking shipping in the Strait of Dover, and RAF Fighter Command fought over these waters until October, joined from September 1940 by American volunteers of the Eagle Squadrons. Four years later the same crossing carried the D-Day invasion fleet to Normandy.
Here in the story
Battle
Three Spitfires fly out with an hour of fuel to hunt the bombers and fighters attacking the ships below.
Here in the story
At sea
Flying with an Eagle Squadron against German bombers, Rafe is shot down into the Channel and reported dead.
Naval
Trapped against the coast, more than 338,000 British and French soldiers were rescued by warships and hundreds of civilian 'little ships'. The army lost its equipment, but saving its men let Britain keep fighting.
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