in september, 1940, britain was under sustained attack from the luftwaffe. the nazis won the battle in the skies, next would come the planned land invasion. the british people we re land invasion. the british people were fighting for their lives. on the 15th of september, 1940, the first two squadrons of spitfires to be tasked with taking on the luftwaffe took off from here, at biggin hill, and flew to canterbury and engaged in incredibly dangerous dog fights high in the sky and then came back to refuel the planes, the pilot had a cup of tea and a sandwich, and then they were right back out again. their bravery and ultimately their success is remembered today. what people tend to forget is how pivotal that day was, the one we are now celebrating. it literally could have gone either way, so to come here today and fly alongside the legendary aeroplanes that took part in the battle 80 years ago was a huge honour. the battle against coronavirus meant this year the 80th anniversary celebrations had to be curtailed, but the sacrifices have not been forgotten. 22,

in september, 1940, britain was under sustained attack from the luftwaffe.nned land invasion. the british people were fighting for their lives. 0n the 15th of september, 1940, the first two squadrons of spitfires to be tasked with taking on the luftwaffe took off from here, at biggin hill, and flew to canterbury and engaged in incredibly dangerous dog fights high in the sky and then came back to refuel the planes, the pilot had a cup of tea and a sandwich, and then they were right back out again. their bravery and ultimately their success is remembered today. what people tend to forget is how pivotal that day was, the one we are now celebrating. it literally could have gone either way, so to come here today and fly alongside the legendary aeroplanes that took part in the battle 80 years ago was a huge honour. the battle against coronavirus meant this year the 80th anniversary celebrations had to be curtailed, but the sacrifices have not been forgotten. 22, that was the average age. so they gave their lives to what people have got today, and i hope they don't

it's exactly 80 years today since the raf managed to repel two massive attacks by germany's luftwaffeformer raf engineer's extraordinary story. due to covid, 90—year—old old jeff brereton hasn't left home since january, but this was a reunion 80 years in the making thatjeff was determined not to miss. it is wonderful to see it, absolutely wonderful. it's unbelievable, it's unbelievable. as a young man, he served at raf croydon and remembers working on this hurricane fighter. as groundcrew, theirjob was to keep the planes flying, whatever it took. the main problem that we had was the fabrics, really, on the bodywork, where they would get all covered in bullet holes very often, and very often, the pilot didn't even know that they were hit. they were on the way up to flying again, and the paint was still wet. jeff is being treated to his own personal display here at the imperial war museum in duxford. still a teenager in 1940, he witnessed how the battle of britain took its toll. some of them told us that they had only flown four hours in training, and they come out for the first time in

they'd been expecting it for days, the final mass attack by hitler's luftwaffe ahead of an invasion.e southern counties whilst fighters were waiting to trap the raf and wipe it out. exhausted young men who had fought and watched friends die for two months scrambled back into their cockpits. it would be about there. it was enough to turn you all over and do all sorts of things. and if you were fighting, you would be pressing this button as well. john hemingway is the last of winston churchill's ‘few‘. now, 101, he'd already been shot down twice by september 1940. we were all in our early 20s, i was 20. we just didn't care. there was no right or wrong. the war was on, we were pilots. we were going to fight them all the time. not that we were brave or anything, but there was nothing else. the world was at war, and you couldn't go somewhere and say, "i am at peace, i don't fight wars." as the planes weaved in a web of smoke trails over kent, the few relied on the many. the fitters who endured the bombing of airfields and got them back into the air, the spotters, plotters and radar operat

in september, 1940, britain was under sustained attack from the luftwaffe. hill, and flew to canterbury and engaged in incredibly dangerous dog fights high in the sky and then came back to refuel the planes, the pilot had a cup of tea and a sandwich, and then they were right back out again. their bravery and ultimately their success is remembered today. what people tend to forget is how pivotal that day was, the one we are now celebrating. it literally could have gone either way, so to come here today and fly alongside the legendary aeroplanes that took part in the battle 80 years ago was a huge honour. this is outside source live from the bbc newsroom. our lead story... representatives of the united arab emirates, bahrain and israel have signed an historic diplomatic agreement at the white house. now to australia, and a story of whales ending up further inland than they‘ve ever been. the story‘s from the kakadu national park in the northern territory. more specifically, the east alligator river. confusingly, as you can see from these pictures, it‘s full of

(music) the luftwaffe was taking its destruction through europe's skies.s frustrated and a beleaguered britain was standing alone. the united states had passed the selective service act to prepare for what inevitably lay ahead. and the biggest challenge in kernel eisenhower's life was to aid in that preparation. late in 1940 he was made chief of staff of the third division where his staff work brought him assignment as chief of staff of the mounted corps. (music) in the summer of 1941, eisenhower became chief of staff to general walter krueger whose nearly organized third army was preparing to participate in war maneuvers yet held. in these maneuvers over the louisiana countryside, as american trained its army, eisenhower's work was to stop against mechanized force. soon after the maneuvers were over, eisenhower was promoted to brigadier general and then came the bombing of pearl harbor. (music) from almost this moment on, the fate of the nation and the fate of general dwight d. eisenhower would be bound together. called to washington in the first weeks af

it's exactly 80 years today since the raf managed to repel two massive attacks by germany's luftwaffes john maguire is at an airfield in northamptonshire to tell us more. morning, john. good morning to you both. you are going to love some of the pictures we are about to show you. spitfire. we hate using the word iconic but it has to be the most iconic aircraft ever created, there with concorde. the very memorable and notable rg mitchell design on this plane along with the hurricane were huge parts of winning and securing victory in the battle of britain. this particular aircraft has been converted, it is a trainer, you have a seat in the backjar was very privileged to get a ride in yesterday but built in 191m, 90% original this aircraft, flew 176 combat sorties, credited with 6004 -- 6.5 kills, combat sorties, credited with 6004 —— 6.5 kills, the half kill meaning it was shared with another our craft that i want to show you when the cockpit, very cramped and noisy and warm as you will see in a couple of minutes, but can you imagine what it's like, not just minutes, but can you imagine

battle of britain — it's 80 years today since the raf fought off two massive attacks by germany's luftwaffeitain's home secretary priti patel says it's "unacceptable" that people can't get coronavirus tests — after hospital bosses in england warned that a lack of testing was leading to staff shortages. health officials say the situation is putting services at risk and hampering efforts to prepare for winter. but ms patel insisted the government is growing its screening capacity every day. greg mackenzie reports. testing has come under intense scrutiny, after people across the uk reported that they were unable to book tests or were being offered tests more than 100 miles away, like these people in plymouth. there is problems getting a test. i was told by the nhs that there was none, there was none in the uk whatsoever. we did it last week for my son and we were able tojust come in. back injuly, walk—in centres like this one in east london, were being promoted but now, walk—in slots are limited each day and, and when they run out, people are simply turned away, including key workers. i need t

[explosion] [suspenseful music] narrator: the luftwaffe was taking its destruction through europe's skiesas frustrated and beleaguered britain was standing alone. the united states had passed the selective service act to prepare for what inevitably lay ahead. and the biggest challenge in colonel eisenhower's life was to aid in that preparation. late in 1940, he was made chief of staff of the third division , where his staff work at him a segment as chief of staff of the corps. ninth♪ in the summer of 1941, colonel eisenhower became chief of staff to general walter krueger whose nearly organized third army was preparing to participate in the most realistic war maneuvers yet held by american troops. in these maneuvers over the louisiana countryside, as and trained its growing army of citizen soldiers, eisenhower's task was to work out a defense against germany's mechanized force. ♪ soon after the maneuvers were over, eisenhower was promoted to brigadier general, and within a matter of days came the bombing of pearl harbor. [explosions] [somber music] ♪ narrator: from almost this moment on,

. >> in september 1940, britain was under sustained attack from the luftwaffe. >> the british peoplee fighting for their lives. >> on september 15, 1940, the first two squadrons of spitfires took off from here. they flew to canterbury, engaged in incredibly dangerous fights high in the sky, and they came back to roof you'll the planes -- to refuel the planes. then they were right back out again. their bravery and ultimately their scess is remembered today. >> people forget just how pivotal that day was, that we are now celebrating. it literally could have gone either way. to be able to come here today, flying alongside the legendary airplanes that took part in that battle 80 years ago, is a huge honor. the battle against covi meant for the 80th anniversary, the celebrations had to be curtailed, but the sacrifices have not been forgott. >> 22 was the average age. people have got today, and it hope they don't forget that. katty:e remembering the bat britain. before we go, a lot of people have turned to gardening during this pandemic. so have had help from spouses and kids. i'm not sure

they'd been expecting it for days, the final mass attack by hitler's luftwaffe ahead of an invasion. raf and wipe it out. exhausted young men who had fought and watched friends die for two months scrambled back into their cockpits. it would be about there. it was enough to turn you all over and do all sorts of things. and if you were fighting, you would be pressing this button as well. john hemingway is the last of winston churchill's ‘few‘. now, 101, he'd already been shot down twice by september 1940. we were all in our early 20s, i was 20. we just didn't care. there was no right or wrong. the war was on, we were pilots. we were going to fight them all the time. not that we were brave or anything, but there was nothing else. the world was at war, and you couldn't go somewhere and say, "i am at peace, i don't fight wars." as the planes weaved in a web of smoke trails over kent, the few relied on the many. the fitters who endured the bombing of airfields and got them back into the air, the spotters, plotters and radar operators who steered them towards their next mission. by the end

. -- 1120 —— 1120 luftwaffe. the hurricane and spitfires there you saw flying over the abbey.l service, which hasjust finished, saw the abbey. the memorial service, which has just finished, saw a dramatically reduced attendance compared to previous years because of coronavirus. the organisers had said it was eight memorial service reduced in stature but not in spirit and a magnificent fly—past there on and a magnificent fly—past there on a beautiful day in central london. so, very clear skies over central london as the three spitfires and the hurricane have been flying over the hurricane have been flying over the capital to mark the 80th anniversary of the battle of britain. a historic turning point in the second world war. in which 11100 and 97, almost 1500 pilots and aircrew were killed or mortally wounded. —— aircrew were killed or mortally wounded. "11197. aircrew were killed or mortally wounded. —— 1497. a fitting memorial there, a fly—past over central london to remember those who gave their lives in the battle of britain 80 years ago. you are watching bbc news. let's tu

it was the air battle that defended the country from the luftwaffe and forced hitler to postpone hiscrew their lives. today the 80th anniversary of the battle of britain was commemorated at westminster abbey with a service that was its first major event since lockdown. sarah campbell reports. the sights and sounds of 19110 as a hurricane and three spitfires flew over london today. 80 years ago, the stakes couldn't have been higher. sir winston churchill famously called the young pilots "the few." newsreel: hurricanes and spitfires roar into action. it was the first time a major military battle was fought in the air. the nazis' plan was to overwhelm the allied air defences and then launch a full—on invasion. their plan failed. today, the prime minister arrived at westminster abbey to remember those who fought so courageously, along with the leader of the opposition, all in masks, in this, the first major service to have taken place at the abbey since lockdown began in march. fanfare. more than 2,000 people would usually attend the service of remembrance, which has been held here every

during the battle, the raf defended the skies above southern england, as hitler's luftwaffe flew dailylassroom after lockdown, but rising covid cases means thousands of children are already isolating, so for many it's back to home—schooling. and it brings up a problem we've reported on before — a lack of tablets and laptops for some children means they can't complete online lessons. head teachers say they urgently need more digital devices to stop pupils falling further behind. fiona lamdin reports. how have you been finding staying at home? a bit difficult at the same time... yeah. have you been getting on with the work 0k? yeah. keriya is in year 9. she's one of 300 students who must stay at home after another pupil tested positive for coronavirus, but already is worried she's falling behind. what difference do you think having a tablet will make? a massive difference. honestly, it really will. it'll be a lot more easier. i'll be able to work well and be a lot more productive with the work. at the moment, we only have 15 ipads that we can issue to students at home, and it's really a

the battle of britain, when the raf successfully repelled the largest ever daylight raid by the luftwaffeogramme about that last night, about the importance of radar because the german planes out dond the british ones but radar gave you 20 minutes warning so if we had not had radar, things could have been different to. is ten minutes past six and matt is here with the weather. this picture is from yesterday but moscow skies like this today. the rainfall radar is coming in handy this morning but for most it isa in handy this morning but for most it is a dry day. still warm in the south, not quite 31 as we saw yesterday and can buckle conditions developing from the north. a few spots of rain around, some towards east anglia in the south—east, some link to the cloud drifting southwards to north—east england during the day. that will bring a change to cooler conditions, temperatures returning to normal but it does mean through the day and into the afternoon much more sunshine around on the far north of scotla nd sunshine around on the far north of scotland compared with just day. temperatures