James Jefferies talks to us about Bomber Command in the Battle of Britain. The narrative of the Battle of Britain has frequently been one of Britain under siege which is often defined by a handful of fighter pilots of the RAF, known as ‘the few’, defending the skies over Britain. However, the Battle of Britain was a battle just as much about an RAF offensive battle as one of defence. Contemporary sources and post war examinations suggest that ‘the few’ also included the bomber crews of the RAF who engaged on frequent, and often fatal, missions over enemy territory. James will ask how important the role of the bombers were to the RAF’s success, and why their story was often neglected in the historiography of the battle. It will also examine the popular collective memory that still often chooses to omit the role of the bomber crews.
Up Next in Season 1
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My Family Secret: What A Genealogical...
Family history beyond Chris Walklett's grandparents on his father’s side was a complete mystery to his family. Despite various attempts to uncover the truth, nobody knew for sure where they had come from although all sorts of rumours and suppositions abounded. As a history student in a pre-intern...
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Historians Discuss: The Christmas Edi...
For History Indoors’ last talk of 2020 before the winter break, Amy Saunders and Sam Woodward talk all things Christmas! In this panel discussion, Amy talks about the Victorian origins of the Christmas card and how the tradition developed, whilst Sam takes a look at advertising and the impact tha...
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How did the English Civil War affect ...
Historian Michael Sewell reflects on how the British Civil War impacted and destroyed landmarks that were cherished and used by communities. Using Colchester as his Case Study he will show the conflict shaped our town’s landscape forever and show the lasting legacy of the conflict in English hist...
