The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

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tiger76
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The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by tiger76 » Tue Jul 07, 2020 8:52 pm

New series. Dan Snow and Kate Humble present a three-part guide to the critical aerial battle that changed the course of the Second World War, featuring personal stories of pilots, ground crews and members of the public. The first episode tracks the first skirmishes of the three-day battle,as the Luftwaffe began an all-out assault to rid Britain of air power prior to a land invasion. The first skirmishes were being tracked by a 19-year-old WAAF member in a secret London bunker, and her secret diaries provide fresh insight into the strategies behind the aerial combat.

Just spotted this in the schedule, makes a change to get a decent documentary, though quite where they get the 3 days from IDK, the Battle of Britain lasted for more than 3 months. I can only assume this is just the initial stages of the Battle, it's on for 3 consecutive nights, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and if you can't catch it, then I've no doubt it'll be available on catch-up.
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UnderSeige
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by UnderSeige » Tue Jul 07, 2020 8:57 pm

tiger76 wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 8:52 pm
New series. Dan Snow and Kate Humble present a three-part guide to the critical aerial battle that changed the course of the Second World War, featuring personal stories of pilots, ground crews and members of the public. The first episode tracks the first skirmishes of the three-day battle,as the Luftwaffe began an all-out assault to rid Britain of air power prior to a land invasion. The first skirmishes were being tracked by a 19-year-old WAAF member in a secret London bunker, and her secret diaries provide fresh insight into the strategies behind the aerial combat.

Just spotted this in the schedule, makes a change to get a decent documentary, though quite where they get the 3 days from IDK, the Battle of Britain lasted for more than 3 months. I can only assume this is just the initial stages of the Battle, it's on for 3 consecutive nights, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and if you can't catch it, then I've no doubt it'll be available on catch-up.
Sounds good. I'll give it a try.

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by karatekid » Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:00 pm

Thanks for the heads up. Followed by Hacksaw Ridge at 10pm.

Hipper
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by Hipper » Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:51 am

Do Channel 5 do decent documentaries? I just thought they rehashed stuff that had been done to death already - this sounds like a prime example.

A couple of known and attractive presenters, a few fossils that played a bit part in the episode, and a few 'wows' thrown in - the modern documentary.

Vintage Claret
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by Vintage Claret » Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:36 am

Enjoyed the 1st episode, looking forward to the next 2.

Personally I never tire of watching any documentary that reminds us of the incredible skill, bravery and dedication of 'The Few', many of whom were barely into their 20's when the battle started.
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by claret2018 » Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:03 am

The UK has a weird obsession with WW2 that isn’t helpful.

Blackrod
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by Blackrod » Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:36 am

What a strange post.

Murger
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by Murger » Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:40 am

claret2018 wrote:
Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:03 am
The UK has a weird obsession with WW2 that isn’t helpful.
Utter horseshit.

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by Billy Balfour » Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:45 am

Hipper wrote:
Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:51 am
Do Channel 5 do decent documentaries?
Yeah, a lot of it is rehashed stuff that's been done to death, but it's worth keeping an eye on the listings. Channel 5 improved after Richard Desmond sold it to Viacom.

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by UnderSeige » Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:59 am

The following Timewatch video is a good one about the Battle of Britain. I think that it was made around twenty years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zWIDYgjlgE

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by ecc » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:09 am

"The UK has a weird obsession with WW2 that isn’t helpful."

Post of the Day thus far.

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by northeastclaret » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:11 am

Prick of the day not post of the day

SonofPog
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by SonofPog » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:17 am

You might disagree, but he aint wrong.

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by claret2018 » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:18 am

I get that it interesting historically, but the constant glorification of what was one of the darkest periods in human history is just plain odd.

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by northeastclaret » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:28 am

claret2018 wrote:
Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:18 am
I get that it interesting historically, but the constant glorification of what was one of the darkest periods in human history is just plain odd.
Sounds like you will asking for the statues to be pulled down next, queue the next protest march

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by Billy Balfour » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:30 am

The World at War still takes some beating as does its narration by Laurence Olivier.
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ecc
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by ecc » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:34 am

"I get that it interesting historically, but the constant glorification of what was one of the darkest periods in human history is just plain odd."

No, it's about our duty to ensure people don't forget how evil people wanted to wipe out anybody who didn't "fit" their criteria.

If you look at what happened in the countries where the Nazis took control you might see what I mean.
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by UnderSeige » Wed Jul 08, 2020 11:41 am

ecc wrote:
Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:34 am
"I get that it interesting historically, but the constant glorification of what was one of the darkest periods in human history is just plain odd."
No, it's about our duty to ensure people don't forget how evil people wanted to wipe out anybody who didn't "fit" their criteria.
If you look at what happened in the countries where the Nazis took control you might see what I mean.
It was the uniting of the world (countries, religions and races) to defeat fascism and the worst form of racism ever to exist. The defeat of an anti-Semitic regime that were also committing mass genocide against the weak, the disabled, people with various religious and political beliefs, people of other races and virtually anyone else that they decided not to like.

The Axis enslaved millions of people in Europe and the Far East with the aim of eventually murdering all those that they couldn't use as slaves.

There is a lot to admire from the generation that defeated such evil and often at the cost of their own lives.
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by dsr » Wed Jul 08, 2020 11:47 am

Glorification? The moral of WW2 is that when there is evil in the world, then it's worth standing up to that evil even though the odds are against you and defeat is likely. Good should be seen to stand against evil and ultimately, perhaps, good will triumph.

I think that's a moral worth glorifying.
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by karatekid » Fri Jul 10, 2020 2:02 pm

Really enjoyed this 3 part series. Some tragic and heroic stories told but the biggest accolade came from the german luftwaffe ace who said the germans had finally met their match.

On a similar note I have just watched the Spitfire flypast for Dame Vera Lynn's funeral and still people look on in wonder and admiration for this iconic plane. I can't ever see another aircraft coming close to its fame except maybe Concorde.

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by BennyD » Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:50 pm

claret2018 wrote:
Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:03 am
The UK has a weird obsession with WW2 that isn’t helpful.
Pulled any statues down recently? I’m just asking as you sound like one of the extremists that are trying to discredit our heritage by playing down our achievements but highlighting our misdeeds.

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by ngsobob » Fri Jul 10, 2020 7:32 pm

Allied effort. I believe the Poles had the most hits. There was an Indian Spitfire squadron too. Hitler switched his focus to bombing London which provided opportunity for the RAF to recover numbers. Amazing to think of little more than teenagers doing aerial combat.

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by Holmeclaret » Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:28 pm

Extraordinarily good series. It was amazing to get an insight into the lives of those who were there during those dark days . I will always be grateful for their heroism. As someone of mixed Asian and English heritage I would not have been born had it not been for the incredible bravery of the pilots of the RAF. My father could never have come to England and even if he had, the nazis would never have allowed his relationship with my mother.
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by BennyD » Fri Jul 10, 2020 11:48 pm

dsr wrote:
Wed Jul 08, 2020 11:47 am
Glorification? The moral of WW2 is that when there is evil in the world, then it's worth standing up to that evil even though the odds are against you and defeat is likely. Good should be seen to stand against evil and ultimately, perhaps, good will triumph.

I think that's a moral worth glorifying.
The extreme left and BLM don’t.

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by ecc » Fri Jul 10, 2020 11:55 pm

"Never was so much owed by so many to so few".

Of the 2,940 RAF aircrew who served during the Battle of Britain, 2,334 were British (figures from "The Second World War" by Antony Beevor).

The rest were made up of men from the following countries (in order of the number from each country, Poland providing the most, 145).

Poland
New Zealand
Canada
Czechoslovakia
Australia
Belgium
South Africa
France
USA
Ireland
Southern Rhodesia
Barbados
Jamaica
Newfoundland
Northern Rhodesia

karatekid
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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by karatekid » Sat Jul 11, 2020 11:45 am

Was the one from the USA Ben Affleck? 😉

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by Rileybobs » Sat Jul 11, 2020 11:53 am

Billy Balfour wrote:
Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:30 am
The World at War still takes some beating as does its narration by Laurence Olivier.
Watched this about 5 years ago but never made it through the entire series. Searched on sky a few months ago and they’re all available on demand so I started watching them again recently.

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Re: The Battle of Britain: 3 Days That Saved the Nation Channel 5 9PM

Post by Rowls » Sat Jul 11, 2020 11:58 am


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