The Few

The Few is a term used to describe the Allied airmen of the Royal Air Force (RAF) who won the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. It comes from Winston Churchill's phrase "never was so much owed by so many to so few".

Related Topics:
Royal Air Force - Battle of Britain - Second World War - Winston Churchill - Never was so much owed by so many to so few

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The flyers were overwhelmingly Britons in the RAF (2,353 out of a total of 2,927, by one counting; of them, 407 were killed, out of a total death roll of 510). However, there were many from other British Empire countries (particularly New Zealand and Canada), as well as exiles from many conquered European nations. In particular, there were several squadrons of men from Poland, and many from Czechoslovakia as well. Although this action took place well before the USA entered the war, there were a handful (10, by one count) of US pilots involved.

Related Topics:
British Empire - New Zealand - Canada - Poland - Czechoslovakia - USA

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There is a preserved Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft known as "The Last of The Few", as part of the "Battle of Britain Memorial Flight", along with a Supermarine Spitfire that flew in the Battle (one of 5 Spitfires in the Memorial Flight).

Related Topics:
Hawker Hurricane - Supermarine Spitfire

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The pilots themselves are remembered on the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne.

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