The Battle of Britain was one of the first major air battles during WWII and proved critical to the allied eventual victory.
Many Canadians served in the squadrons of Spitfires and Hurricanes which repulsed the Luftwaffein the summer of 1940. No. 1 Fighter Squadron, RCAF, equipped with modern eight-gun fighters, became the first Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) unit to engage enemy planes in battle when it met a formation of German bombers over southern England on August 26, 1940. It shot down three of them and damaged four others with the loss of one pilot and one plane. Its next meeting with the enemy was not as fortunate as it was attacked out of the sun by Messerschmitts and lost three planes. By mid-October the squadron had accounted for 31 enemy aircraft destroyed and probably 43 more destroyed or damaged. It lost 16 Hurricanes; three pilots had been killed.
Other Canadians flew with the Royal Air Force during that difficult period. No 242 (Canadian) Squadron RAF, which had been formed in 1939 from some of the many Canadians who flew directly with the Royal Air Force, was not reinforced with Veterans from the French campaign and joined in the battle. On August 30, nine of its planes met a hundred enemy aircraft over Essex. Attacking from above, the squadron claimed 12 victories and escaped unscathed.
Canadians also shared in repulsing theLuftwaffe's last major daylight attack. On September 27, 303 Squadron RAF and 1 Squadron RCAF attacked the first wave of enemy bombers. Seven, possibly eight enemy planes were destroyed, and another seven damaged. The Royal Canadian Air Force thus received its baptism of fire.
Their invasion plans wrecked, the Germans turned to night bombing to destroy Britain's will to fight. For nine months, the British people suffered an aerial bombardment of their major cities that was then without precedent. It only strengthened the determination of the people. The attacks became less frequent. Great Britain survived the blitz.
TO FIND THE CACHE, go to the starting location. After reading on the history of the British Commonwealth Air Training Program (BCATP), venture North about 15 paces to get to Australia. From Australia, you will head 048 degrees for 28 meters and arrive in the United Kingdom. On the way, you will pass a monument depicting the locations of the Manitoba BCATP bases. Feel free to observe the history. Departing the UK, you can choose to head to New Zealand, or to Canada. If you chose Canada, after arriving, head 220 meters on a heading of 074 degrees. If you chose to go to New Zealand, the next waypoint is on a bearing of 068 degrees for 210 meters
This cache has been placed with the permission of the 17 Wing Chief Warrant Officer in hopes that cachers will take the opportunity to learn about some of our important RCAF history. Please be respectful of the area.
An interesting sidenote: During my research of the area, I came up with coordinates for each location mentionned in the above path. The last three digits of the Northing for each of these locations is the number of a RCAF Squadron which was formed during WWII. The one exception to this is the final, which coincidentally was an Australian squadron from WWII
For more information on the Battle of Britain see: http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/history/secondwar/canada2/batbri
For more information on the Numbered RCAF Squadrons see: http://www.canadianwings.com/Squadrons/index.php
There is an unactivated Canadian Forces Geocoin for the FTF.