Battle of Britain

In honor of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain—the WWII-era air war hailed by Winston Churchill as his nation's “finest hour”—actor Ewan McGregor and his brother Colin, a military pilot, examine the weapons and tactics of this brief but intense conflict conducted in the skies over southern England, interviewing some of the brave Brits who piloted the Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft against Germany's seemingly invincible Luftwaffe. In the summer of 1940, Britain stood alone to face the Nazi air force, which was under orders to destroy England's defenses in preparation for a German invasion. Although German planes were renowned for their power, the Nazi commanders—including Hermann Goering—hadn't counted on a recent British innovation called “radar,” coupled with an elaborate system of plane spotters and coast watchers. Directed by Ashley Gething, the documentary provides an effective account of the historic military operation, including Germany's infamous terror tactic known as “the Blitz,” which targeted London and other urban centers; also covered are the importance of sea rescues (many men ditched their planes in the icy, unforgiving ocean), the battle's heavy losses (which included over 500 pilots, with an average age of 22), and Britain's ultimate victory. Aviation buffs will love the vintage and contemporary aerial footage included here, showing the British fighters maneuvering over the countryside. An exciting and informative addition to the ranks of winning WWII history docs, Battle of Britain is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)