80 years ago, in 15 September 1940, the Luftwaffe made a gigantic aerial assault on London in the belief that the Royal Air Force was down to its last few fighters. This, they hoped, would be the decisive clash that finished the RAF, and force Britain to the negotiating table or even pave the way for invasion. To mark this anniversary I went to Bentley Priory, the HQ of RAF Fighter Command, with historian Stephen Bungay. He more than anyone I know is able to describe exactly why the RAF won. A tale of technology, leadership, bravery and organisation. A version of this interview appears on History Hit TV.
Stephanie Trouillard is a journalist at France 24, specialising in sports and international history.
Joshua Levine is a historian and author, his latest book The Secret History of the Blitz is out now.
Professor Peter Doyle is a geologist and military historian of twentieth-century conflict. He has a particular interest in World War One and recently co-authored Kitchener's Mob: The New Army to the Somme.
