The Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain was the aerial conflict between British and German air forces in the skies over the United Kingdom in 1940. It was one of the most important moments in Britain's twentieth century history and a decisive turning point of the Second World War. Triple Aces were pilots who were credited with shooting down 15 or more enemy aircraft. The Battle of Britain produced many aces (men who shot down 5 or more enemy aircraft) but triple aces were very rare. The figures below represent 3 out of 8 pilots with triple ace kills:

Eric Lock (Pilot Officer) – 21 kills, the most successful British-born RAF pilot during the Battle of Britain, was born in Bayston Hill in 1920. He joined his father's farming business on leaving Prestfelde School. In 1939 he joined the RAFVR when it became clear that war was almost inevitable and was called up on it's outbreak. He was posted to 41 Squadron in August 1940 where his nickname, "Sawn Off", came about because of his short stature. Lock flew with air charter service 41 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. He was badly wounded in the limbs by cannon shell splinters when shot up by an Me 109 on 17 November 1940. Although managing to crash-land his Spitfire near Martlesham Heath.. After a long period in hospital and convalescence he was posted to No 611 Squadron. On 3rd of August 1941 he failed to return from strafing German troops and is presumed to have been shot down and killed by ground fire. Eric Lock finished the war with 26 victories.

James Lacey (Sergeant) – 18 kills, the second highest scoring British RAF fighter pilot of the Battle of Britain,behind Eric Lock, born in 1917 in Wetherby. He worked as a dispenser on leaving King James Grammar School in Knaresborough. He World War 2 Ex RAF joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1937. He also worked as a flying instructor with the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club.On the outbreak of the Second World War Lacey joined the RAF. A member of the 501 Squadron he served in France until Dunkirk in June 1940.

Witold Urbanowicz (Flying Officer) – 17 kills, was born in Olszanka, Poland in 1908. The Polish 303 Squadron was the most successful in the Battle of Britain, and Urbanowicz was their decorated Squadron Leader. In 1930 he entered a cadet flying air freight school in Dęblin, graduating in 1932 As a 2/Lt. Observer. During the Battle of Britain, he claimed 15 confirmed kills and 1 probable, which made him one of the top Polish aces and in the top ten Allied aces of the battle. During the war none of Witold Urbanowicz's planes were hit by a single enemy bullet.

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The defensive victory won in 1940 dashed German hopes of a swift end to the war in western Europe and ensured that Britain remained a free and independent state able to carry on the war.