The Battle of Britain (2): the Americans

“I think it is important in life to speak as it is and the fact is that we are a very effective partner of the US but we are the junior partner. We were the junior partner in 1940 when we were fighting the Nazis.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron speaking to Sky television

This year is the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 1940. The Royal Air Force roll of honour for the Battle recognises 595 non-British pilots (out of 2,936) as flying at least one authorised operational sortie with an eligible unit of the RAF between 10 July and 31 October 1940.

That means that one in five of the RAF pilots were not British. But only seven of them were American because, of course, the USA did not enter the war until December 1941.

I’m sure the Prime Minister meant to say something different but he needs to be more careful on such sensitive matters.


One Comment

  • Mavis

    And the US did not enter into the war, until Pearl Harbour despite their President at that time wanting to help all he could. They even charged us for Liberty ships and, if I remember correctly we paid for them with diminishing stocks of gold. No wonder we were broke after the war for such a long time.

    You might be sure Roger that he meant to say something else – but I am not.

    I have seen no retraction or explanation.

    My Father,Uncles and older Cousins, fought in 1940 alone, probably like some of your family and the rest of the UK. It is unforgivable of a UK Prime Minister to make such a statement.

    I am not bothered by any ‘special relationship’ it works one way – the USA way when it suits them.

 




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