“The Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin.”

Thus Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons on June 18, 1940, and the following month the Battle of Britain did indeed begin. Over the summer and autumn of 1940, the German Air Force, Luftwaffe, waged a campaign against the United Kingdom to gain air superiority, and it was the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces. It was also the largest and most sustained aerial bombing campaign to date.

Germany’s failure to destroy Britain’s air defences or to force Britain to surrender is considered its first major defeat and a crucial turning point in World War Two.

Each year, the Royal Airforce Museum London stages a pageant commemorating veterans of the Battle of Britain that includes talks, tours, tableaux and concerts.

This year’s includes a Spitfire flypast on Saturday, September 15, concerts by the Barnet Band underneath the museum’s Lancaster on the same day, and concerts by the Royal Air Force Association President’s Band on Sunday, September 16.

There will also be tours of the museum’s Battle of Britain Hall, a screening of the classic film Battle of Britain , on Sunday 16, and, for the kids, a chance to make and paint your own Airfix Spitfire model.

  • Battle of Britain weekend is at the RAF Museum, Grahame Park Way, Colindale on Saturday, September 15 and Sunday, September 16. See website for times of various events. Details: 020 8205 2266, www.rafmuseum.org.uk