European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 3, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Graham Heathcote associated press visitors to London can get a real feeling of what it was like in England 50 years ago at the Onset of world War ii when Britain stood against the Luftwaffe. Sir Winston Churchill named the struggle Quot the Battle of Britain Quot even before it began. As the life or death Battle was being fought in the summer of 1940, he said of the few Hundred Royal air Force pilots from 19 nations who clashed head on with hordes of German bombers and their protecting screens of fighters Quot never in the Field of human conflict was so much owed by so Many to so  through october this year exhibitions and air displays will recall that summer when the hurricanes and spitfires met the enemy pouring in from airfields in newly conquered northeastern France. The biggest ground Effort marking the 50th anniversary of the four months of combat in the sky is the Quot Battle of Britain experience Quot through oct. 31 at the Royal air Force museum at historic Hendon Airfield in North London. It can be reached from Colindale underground station Northern line or Mill Hill train station. Shuttle buses will link the two stations and the museum throughout the summer. Sound recordings made in 1940 of air raid sirens the whine of aircraft and the Distant crackle of machine guns usher visitors to the museum into a labyrinth of relics photographs an entire operations control room As it was at the height of the Battle and the aircraft that took part in the fighting. Quot besides a Hurricane and a spitfire we have the Best collection of German aircraft in the world Quot said spokesman Michael Tagg. Quot visitors can see the Messerschmidt 109 and 110 fighters the Heinkel 111 and junkers 87 and 88 bombers and even an italian Fiat . 42, which made a forced Landing during the Only raid by the italian air  a collection of paintings called Quot Britain alone Quot will be on display at the Raf museum beginning june 14, and an exhibition of photographs of the Battle will run from july 6 to dec. 2. The biggest anniversary in the air is sept. 15, when Queen Elizabeth ii will be on the Buckingham Palace Balcony As a 12-mile column of 163 Veteran and modern aircraft flies above. Survivors of Quot the few Quot will line up in front of the Palace. That will follow a Parade Down the mall to Buckingham Palace from 11 . To 1 . A fireworks display Over the thames is scheduled that night. The Battle of Britain resulted from Adolf Hitler s determination to Force the country to surrender. Luftwaffe chief Hermann Goering had bragged that the Battle of Britain at right a British Crew realms a Hurricane fighter Early in world War ii. Below a spitfire Center photo and a Hurricane in flight. Amps file 3 his fighters would shoot the Raf out of the sky while his bombers would destroy Raf airfields aircraft production factories and docks. But although the Raf was outnumbered by a 4-to-1 margin in aircraft it had the advantage of fighting close to its bases and thus could Rescue More pilots and Salvage More planes than the germans could. Also the German codes had been broken and the radar Early warning system pinpointed the location of the approaching enemy air fleets. The Raf came close to defeat but the germans did not know that and German losses in the Daylight Battles were so High that the Luftwaffe turned to night bomber raids on British cities. According to the comprehensive account in the Book the Battle of Britain then and now the Luftwaffe lost 2,662 men and 1,887 aircraft while the Raf lost 537 men and 1,023 aircraft. Here Are some other places to go a at London s Imperial War museum is spitfire r6915, which shot Down two German aircraft in the Battle plus plans of the German invasion that never took place the Story of radar flying equipment medals and in the bookshop a dossier of reproduced documents Selling for about $14. Visitors giving notice the Day before can browse in the Library among scores of books about the Battle and through British and German records of it. A at Duxford a Battle Airfield near Cambridge and 56 Miles Northwest of London is the Imperial War museum s huge collection of aircraft of both world wars including spitfires and hurricanes. Quot the whole place is an exhibit a said Tagg. Quot we restored it exactly As it was on sept. 19, 1940, and visitors can see How its squadrons were  Duxford will stage a display of classic fighters and an air show on july 8. Admission prices that Day Are 6 pounds about $10 for adults 3 pounds for children. A Essex in North Weald a chief fighter station in the Battle will Host an air show May 12 and 13. Wii aircraft will be featured. A the Cabinet War rooms in London built underground for Protection from air raids close to the prime minister s official residence in Downing Street display 21 historic rooms that served As Headquarters for Churchill the War Cabinet and the chiefs of staff with desks bunks maps telephones and files just As they were at the War s end in 1945. Close by is Westminster Abbey with its Battle of Britain Chapel. The Chapel s Wall still bears the Marks of flying shrapnel from German bombs. A at the port of Dover the Battle s front line part of the Complex of tunnels in the Chalk Cliffs is being opened May 14 to show British operations rooms known As Quot hellfire Corners and shelters where townspeople hid during raids. The 50-minute guided Tours will Cost 1 Pound for adults 75 Pence for children. A less than 10 Miles from Dover is Folkestone and nearby is Hawkinge Airfield which was an Raf base during the Battle. It has a museum of British and German aircraft relics mementos of such aces As Robert Stanford tuck and Al Deere All the weapons used in the Battle by both sides and equipment and uniforms donated by British and German pilots. A those interested in buying relics of the Battle should Mark these auction dates on their calendars sept. 13 at Bentley priory in Stanmore Northwest London Headquarters of the British commander air chief marshal sir Hugh Dowding and sept. 15 at the Raf museum in Hendon. Sept. 1 3 will be a rare Opportunity to simply see the Interior of the building which is closed to the Public at All other times. A St. Clement Danes the Raf Headquarters Church can be visited in London. A statue of Dowding stands outside. A americans can make a pilgrimage to aptly named Gravesend 25 Miles East of London to see the grave of Detroit born Hugh Reilley shot Down in his spitfire by German Ace Werner moelders. Reilley was one of a handful of americans to get into the Battle when the United states was still Neutral. A All the airmen in the Battle Are commemorated in a memorial at Runnymede 21 Miles West of London where memorials to the Magna Carta and . President John f. Kennedy Are also located. A a service of remembrance for those who died in the Battle of Britain will be held sept. 16 at Westminster Abbey. Admission will be by ticket Only however. For details Contact i ceremonial  344, Cadastral House Theobald s Road London wc1x8ru, England. May 3, 1990 stripes Magazine 3