Battle of Britain Reel 4 (1943): The London Blitz and Air Battles

Reel 4 of Battle of Britain (1943) delivers some of the most dramatic footage of the London Blitz. German planes unleash massive bombing raids on the capital, forcing civilians into air raid shelters while entire districts are reduced to rubble. Rescue squads work day and night—firemen douse flames, bodies are pulled from wreckage, and survivors emerge shaken but defiant. Inside shelters, the resilience of London’s people is on full display. The reel also captures Hermann Goering with his staff as the Luftwaffe prepares its greatest assault on London, sending waves of bombers and fighters across the Channel. RAF pilots scramble to intercept, and aerial combat unfolds in extraordinary detail, with gun camera footage recording dogfights and German planes shot down. A barrage balloon ignites mid-air, symbolizing the chaos of battle, while scenes of wounded civilians and shattered streets convey the human cost. This reel encapsulates the terror and endurance of London during one of the largest air battles of World War II.

- Luftwaffe bombing raids reducing London districts to rubble
- Civilians seeking safety in air raid shelters during attacks
- British rescue squads and firemen battling flames and debris
- Bodies recovered from wreckage and survivors emerging defiant
- Hermann Goering with Luftwaffe staff planning assaults
- Waves of German bombers and fighters crossing the English Channel
- RAF pilots scrambling to intercept enemy aircraft
- Intense aerial dogfights captured via RAF gun camera footage
- Barrage balloon igniting and falling in flames
- Wounded civilians and shattered streets highlighting the human toll
- Downed German planes amid the chaos of battle