Battle of Britain Page #6

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He'll have farther to come.

And to go back.

We'll have more time

to intercept.

What's more important, Park...

his fighters

have only fuel enough...

for ten minutes over London.

His bombers will lose much

of their protection.

For the first time...

they'll all come within

the range of 12 Group.

Perhaps now,

at last, we shall see...

what Leigh-Mallory's

Big Wings are made of.

Turning on London could be

the Germans' biggest blunder.

Spider Leader,

this is Top Hat Control.

Bandits now twenty miles

east of you, heading southeast.

Vector 1-2-0.

- Make, Angel 2-0.

- Roger, Top Hat.

Fox Trot Leader,

this is Tango Control.

Fox Trot Leader,

Pass your message.

I have some trade for you

building up over green "A."

Roger, Tango.

Spider Leader, Top Hat Control.

Your customers appear

to be splitting up.

Main course heading for London

will be your target.

Vector 0-9-0.

Roger, Top Hat.

Batman Control.

Climb to Angels 1-9.

Roger, Batman.

Thank you again.

This should give them

something to think about.

Starlight Control to Dogtail.

Keep an eye out

for a friendly wing...

joining you on your port side.

Roger, Starlight.

I see them. I see them.

Bloody marvelous.

Fox Trot Leader, Tango Control.

Bandits now probably

slightly below you.

Roger, Tango. I've got them.

Peewee Leader

turning starboard now.

Watch out for 109s about.

Roger, Fairfield Leader.

Going up now.

Take the left-hand pair,

Blue Leader.

Roger.

Everybody else, keep tight.

Swarms of them, sir!

Fox Trot Leader, cut that out.

Everyone keep quiet.

Leave the flaming fighters.

It's the bloody bombers

we want.

Ox, will you pipe down?

On fire, son of a gun!

Ox! Behind you!

Behind!

I am on fire! I'm bailing out!

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon my ass,

you Boche bastard.

Put your hands up!

Come on, put them up!

What is it?

I'm a Polish pilot...

Cor blimey.

Your mitts, mate... your mitts.

Put 'em up there.

Go on. Get going.

Where are you taking me?

I'm fighting on your side!

Can we get in?

- And fetch the doctor.

- Good.

I know, young man.

Get out of the way, man.

It's coming. It's coming.

Are you telling me

that your losses are critical?

We're bombing day and night,

Reichsmarschall.

Our losses are high,

and our pilots are tired...

and the planes need servicing.

Be specific!

What are you telling me?!

The English

have changed tactics.

Changed tactics? How?

They are attacking

in large numbers.

Our losses might be reduced

if our formations...

were more closely escorted

by fighters, sir.

The fighters are always there.

But not close enough,

is that it?

You, yourself,

were a fighter pilot.

The fighter is a hunter, sir.

I was a fighter pilot.

I was not a coward!

There is no suggestion

of cowardice, sir!

I am making the suggestion!

From now on the fighters will

stay close with our bombers.

And lose their

natural advantages...

of surprise and speed?

You will obey orders!

The invasion cannot begin

until we have cleared the skies.

Come, my friends,

I have chastised you enough.

But I am here to help him.

Is there anything you want?

Foehn? Falke?

Yes, sir,

a squadron of Spitfires.

Stop... vapor trail.

Left and above.

Vulture Leader to everyone.

Keep quiet. Hold positions.

We'll encircle them

only when they close up...

to firing distance.

We'll take the rear starboard.

Yellow, you take the port.

Roger.

Thanks awfully, old chap.

Sir, you know...

I have promised the Fuehrer...

to clear the skies

and totally destroy the R.A.F.

I expect to be obeyed!

Here we are.

The miracle of the loaves.

We should have moved in here

before we were bombed.

Maggie, I'd like you to meet

our new assistant controller.

Squadron Leader Tom Evans,

Section Officer Harvey.

How do you do?

Hello.

He knows your old man.

How is Colin?

Haven't seen him

since my little escapade...

with the burning Hurricane.

Excuse me, ma'am.

Ma'am. There's a call for you.

Will you excuse me

just a minute?

- Yes.

- Thanks.

It's around the corner.

Hello?

It's me.

How on earth did you

get through here?

Put it down to rank.

I said I was an old battle-ax

from the Air Ministry.

Colin. That was very clever.

Any news?

About?

Your posting, you silly idiot.

Well, you've applied.

I've been so busy here.

It's really not as simple

as all that.

Look, why the hell not?

To be absolutely honest,

I forgot.

I know, darling. I'm sorry.

Groopy's here now.

I'll go and talk to him

right away. All right?

All right?

Colin?

Colin?

Get through all right, sir?

Yes.

Let me give you

a piece of advice.

What's that, sir?

Stay single.

Are you still with me,

Dogtail Red-2?

Affirmative, Red Leader.

Directly behind you

and on your starboard side.

What happened to Harvey?

He got a 1-0-9,

then ran into trouble...

but he's all right.

No mistake.

I saw him bail out.

Right, right, attention.

Right. Stand at ease.

Corporal Seymour will detail

you to your various watches.

I left out the bit

about the wolf whistles.

You're better at that.

The troops have other things

on their minds nowadays...

thank goodness.

Right! Shun!

It's Colin.

He isn't dead, Maggie.

He's going to be all right.

They can do wonders

nowadays, you know.

It's just a question

of time, that's all.

We'll get you a posting

so you can be near him.

Is he badly burned?

You sent for me, sir?

Yes, Peter. I want you

to take over Red Section.

Who are my numbers

two and three, sir?

A couple of new lads.

They're outside.

Right, then.

How many hours on spits?

- Ten, sir.

- Seven, sir.

Stick to me like glue

and keep your eyes open.

Control. Put out 2-2-2

and 6-0-3 Squadrons...

against Hostile 2-6.

Winston would pick

a day like this to come.

Is everything up?

The lot, sir.

- Reserves?

- None.

That's what I've just told

the prime minister.

Red-3, this is Red-1.

Much closer.

I can hardly see you.

Red-2.

You must keep up with me.

Right, Red Section. Here we go.

Stick to me like glue.

Red-3, behind you!

Come in, Blue-2.

Hey, kids. Shut up, will you?

This is the BBC home service.

Here is the 9:
00 news...

and this is Armand Adell

reading it.

Up till 8:
00 tonight...

165 German aircraft

have been destroyed...

in big scale attacks

attempted by the enemy today...

on London and the southeast.

We lost thirty fighters

with ten of the pilots safe.

Buckingham Palace

has been bombed again...

but no one was hurt.

Yes? Yes, one moment.

It's the air minister, sir,

on the scrambler.

Yes?

Dowding. Look,

our people in Washington...

are having trouble

with the American press...

and it's about today's figures.

German sources there

are saying...

that our claims

are wildly exaggerated.

Hello?

Are you there, Dowding?

I'm here, Minister.

Well, can you verify

the figures?

I'm not very interested

in propaganda.

If we're right,

they'll give up.

If we're wrong, they'll be

in London in a week.

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