Battle of Britain
Part of the Second World War
An Observer Corps spotter scans the skies of London.
Date 10 July – 31 October 1940[nb 2] Location United Kingdom airspace Result Decisive British victory [nb 3][nb 4][nb 5][nb 6][nb 7][nb 8][nb 9]
Belligerents
United Kingdom[info 1]  Canada[nb 1]	Germany Italy
Commanders and leaders
Hugh Dowding Keith Park Trafford Leigh-Mallory	Hermann Göring Albert Kesselring Hugo Sperrle
Strength
1,963 serviceable aircraft[nb 10]	2,550 serviceable aircraft. [nb 11] [nb 12]
Casualties and losses
544 aircrew killed 422 aircrew wounded 1,547 aircraft destroyed[nb 13]	2,698 aircrew killed 967 captured 638 missing bodies identified by British Authorities 1,887 aircraft destroyed[nb 14]
↑ The RAF was the only sovereign Allied air force; the Polish Air Force was not given sovereignty until June 1944

Heinkel He 111 bombers during the Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain was a continued attack by the Luftwaffe on Great Britain during the summer and the autumn of 1940.

The Germans' first objective was to get control of the air space above Britain from the Royal Air Force (RAF), especially the Fighter Command.