Thousands died during the Battle of Britain with Biggin Hill fighters in the firing line. DAVID MILLS looks back at how Spitfires and saucepans shot down the Luftwaffe.

SEPTEMBER 15, 1940 marked a key turning point in the Battle of Britain.

It was on this day that RAF fighters started to drive back the Luftwaffe, with major roles played by 72 and 92 Squadrons from Biggin Hill.

In the words of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, it was “one of our great days...the most brilliant and fruitful of any fought upon a large scale by the fighters of the Royal Air Force”.

Churchill followed the action by keeping a close eye on the plotting table as more fighters were scrambled than at any point so far.

The two Biggin Hill squadrons destroyed nine enemy planes and damaged 12.

In total the RAF shot down 56 with a loss of 26, causing Hitler to postpone Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain.

But September was still a month of devastation for Londoners, as Luftwaffe bombs killed more than 7,000 people and injured 9,000.

The death toll however could have been much higher had it not been for Biggin Hill Spitfires breaking up a formation of German Dorniers and 109s directly above onlookers in Sevenoaks.

Historian and author Bob Ogley said: “In the morning sunshine the Spitfires accounted for 10 of the enemy and wrecks of blazing aircraft were scattered all over the Kentish orchards.”

While fighter pilots risked their lives, with new Spitfires arriving at Biggin Hill almost daily, those on the ground also played a part – by providing saucepans.

Thousands of kitchen aluminium utensils were donated to be used for the production of more fighter planes.

In Bromley one benefactor offered £500 if the town could raise £4,500 – the cost of one Spitfire was £5,000.

The residents of Bromley found the money with no trouble at all.

The Battle of Britain officially ended on October 31, 1940, but the bombing of British towns and cities continued.

Across the country more than 13,000 people had been killed and 20,000 injured.

During the 113 days of the Battle of Britain’s, 45 pilots from Biggin Hill were killed and 46 wounded with 104 Spitfires and 51 Hurricanes lost or damaged.

But in the words of Mr Ogley: “Britain remained unconquered and so did her most bombed fighter station, Biggin Hill.

“Group Captain Grice, taking a line from the Windmill Theatre, whose starts were frequent visitors to The Bump, was proud to say, ‘We never closed’.”

HERITAGE CENTRE CAMPAIGN

Campaigners are hoping to open a long overdue military heritage centre on a site next to Biggin Hill airfield to remember The Few who gave their lives for so many.

The centre will chart the groundbreaking development of radar and communication technology used by aircraft during the First and Second World War, as well as house a large collection of artefacts and memorabilia from pilots based at the airfield.

Visit the Biggin Hill Battle of Britain Supporters’ Club, which is backing the campaign, at bhbobsc.org.uk

Bob Ogley has written two books about the military history of Biggin Hill, ‘Biggin on the Bump’ (£11.99) and ‘Ghosts of Biggin Hill’ (£12.99). For more information and to obtain copies, call 01959 562972 or visit frogletspublications.co.uk