From “We Shall Never Surrender” to Spitfire Victories in the Skies
About This Footage
Reel 2 of Battle of Britain (1943) captures Britain’s resolve during the darkest days of 1940. Exhausted but determined, factory workers and civilian volunteers maintain round-the-clock defense efforts, producing weapons and manning key posts. Crowds cheer Winston Churchill and gather around radios to hear his rousing declaration—“we shall never surrender”—a speech that inspired a nation under siege. The reel then shifts to the skies, as air raid sirens blare and waves of German Luftwaffe bombers attack shipping in the English Channel. RAF pilots scramble to their Spitfires, taking off to meet the threat in dramatic dogfights. Combat footage shows machine guns firing, German aircraft exploding and crashing into the sea, and the wreckage of downed enemy planes scattered across England. The reel closes with the rescue of an RAF pilot from the Channel, underscoring both the peril and the valor of Britain’s defenders. This segment highlights the unbreakable spirit of the British people and the crucial role of the RAF in turning the tide of the Battle of Britain.
Part of this Complete Film
Battle of Britain (1943) – RAF vs Luftwaffe in WWII Air Campaign