Track List

Battle Of Britain March R. Goodwin
EMI United Partnership Ltd

FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN A. Copland
Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd

633 SQUADRON R. Goodwin
EMI Music Publishing Ltd

RAF MARCH PAST H. Walford Davies
Boosey & Co. Ltd

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA M. Jarre
Shapiro Bernstein & Co. Ltd

IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO featuring Flight Lieutenant Matthew Little J. Lawrence, R. Jordan
Copyright Control

THE DAMBUSTERS MARCH E. Coates
Chappell Music Ltd

WINSTON CHURCHILL: THEIR FINEST HOUR (JERUSALEM)* W. Churchill,H. Parry Arr. HWorskett

REACH FOR THE SKY J. Mervyn Addison
Francis Day & Hunter Ltd

DANNY BOY Featuring Hayley Westenra Traditional

NO. 4 POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE E. Elgar

THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES R. Goodwin
Emi United Partnership

SPITFIRE PRELUDE W. Walton
Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd

WIND BENEATH MY WINGS Featuring Kerry Ellis L. Henley, J. Silbar
Warner Chappell North America

EVENING HYMN AND SUNSET A. C. Green
Richardson Norman Band Arrangements

WINSTON CHURCHILL: NEVER IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN CONFLICT (THE DAY
THOU GAVEST)* W. Churchill, C. Scholefield arr. Jon Cohen
Jon Cohen Music Ltd, Universal (Uk) Publishing Ltd

Programme Notes

In the summer and autumn of 1940, a battle for national survival was waged in the skies over Britain. Not only would this struggle, the first to be fought primarily in the air, decide the fate of the United Kingdom, but on it also rested the freedom of Europe and the outcome of the Second World War.

Britain's air defence rested principally on the Royal Air Force - only the pilots of Fighter Command, under Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, could meet the Luftwaffe head on. Nearly 3,000 aircrew would go on to serve with Fighter Command in the course of the Battle.

Throughout the gruelling months of the Battle of Britain, the RAF and Women's Auxiliary Air Force ground staff showed great dedication and courage as they strove to keep stations open, despite the continuing attacks. Although day and night raids had been mounted against various British towns and cities throughout the campaign, London had been left alone on Hitler's express orders.

However, on the night of 24 August, a lost bomber formation had dropped bombs on the capital by mistake. Churchill reacted and the following night, in retaliation, Bomber Command aircraft were sent to attack Berlin. By 15 September, Hitler's deadline for the invasion preparations to be finished, Fighter Command had been able to rotate many of the units in the South-East, and had recovered its balance and nerve. In fact, they were now stronger than ever before. 15 September would see a series of heavy Luftwaffe raids across southern England and London throughout the day, and each was met with renewed ferocity by Fighter Command.

The experience of such a response from defence forces which, they had been told, had been almost completely destroyed, shattered German morale. Although the fighting that day was far from the heaviest or most desperate of the Battle, it was still a turning point. The Luftwaffe now realised that it had miscalculated, and it became increasingly clear that they could not win the air superiority that they needed. The Battle still continued. British towns and cities were attacked day and night, and increasingly German fighter-bombers were sent on hit and run raids across the Channel. The bombing of London and other towns and cities by the Luftwaffe would continue until May 1941.

Both sides took heavy casualties during the Battle of Britain. The Luftwaffe lost nearly 1,900 aircraft and more than 2,500 aircrew killed. Fighter Command had lost 544 pilots, about one in six of those who fought. Bomber and Coastal Commands had also taken heavy losses. Bomber and Coastal Commands lost nearly 1,000 aircrew. The bombing would eventually lead to 40,000 civilian casualties. Nevertheless the battle for control of the air over Britain had been decisively won by the RAF.

Victory in the Battle of Britain not only saved the United Kingdom from invasion, but also in the long-term saved Europe too. For the first time, Nazi Germany had been unable to impose its will on the rest of Europe through threat or military might, and its vaunted Luftwaffe had tasted defeated in battle. Britain would remain as a bastion of freedom and hope off the coast of occupied Europe.

The work of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force reflects the fine heritage and ethos of the Service. The bravery and sacrifice of those men and women who served during the Battle of Britain and who secured our freedom today is proudly reflected in these magnificent recordings.