Remembering The Few and those who kept them in the skies

On Wednesday families and serving personnel up and down the country will pause to remember the 81st anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Last year, the RAF Benevolent Fund, shone a light on the little-known contribution of women during the Battle, helping to keep the Spitfire and Hurricane pilots flying. Tomorrow we will be remembering their brave service as well as the hundreds who worked in support of the effort which repelled the Luftwaffe's nightly attacks.

The pilots, named the Few by Prime Minister of the time Winston Churchill, were vastly outnumbered by the incoming Luftwaffe and their losses were high. Despite this, night after night, they took to the skies above Great Britain.

Paddy Hemingway, the last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, gave his support to the Fund's 2020 campaign. Speaking from his home in Ireland, the 101-year-old said: "The sacrifice of my fellow pilots, ground crews and all who supported the effort during the Second World War should never be forgotten. As we have in the last 18 months, communities pulled together to help each other to overcome huge adversity. These values are what we fought for in 1940 and are still relevant today, that's why I urge you to listen to the Fund’s Battle of Britain podcast."

Air Vice-Marshal Chris Elliot, Controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: "I'm proud to lead a charity whose mission is to ensure RAF veterans like Paddy live their twilight years in dignity and comfort. We must never forget those who have gone before us, their legacy must be to remember them each year and pay tribute to them."

The second series of our All Station podcast explores the history of the Battle of Britain and its significance during the Second World War, it was shortlisted for an ARIA.