Fighter Command Libretto ©2015 Philip Barnett and Bryan Kesselman
1. On our own
We’re realistic and optimistic Chamb’lain will keep us out of war. It’s not a crime, there’s peace for our time But some things we just cannot ignore. The Czechs in despair now Germans are there, So, “Don’t enter Poland,” we implore. Poland’s invaded, our hopes have faded. We find ourselves at war. Narrator: Three years earlier, in 1936, Air Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding arrived at Bentley Priory as the newly appointed Commander in Chief of RAF Fighter Command. By 1938, he had become convinced that a war with Nazi Germany was a real possibility. Fortunately, his vision gave him time to plan and prepare for what was to come. Austerity’s in fashion, our food’s just a ration, Churchill becomes Prime Minister, Kids to the station; evacuation. Hitler’s intention is sinister. Trapped at Dunkirk; the boats go to work; Our soldiers we’ll never leave alone. All’s lost in France, the Germans advance, And now chaps we’re on our own, now chaps we’re on our own. Narrator: The Battle of Britain started in July 1940. The RAF were outnumbered four and a half to one. They also had far fewer trained and experienced pilots than the Luftwaffe. Dowding had long believed that Britain needed to be in a position to defend itself from German bombers. This led him to encourage the development and manufacture of the Hurricane and the Spitfire. He also pushed for the development of radar so that the RAF would have the best possible warning of an enemy attack. From his desk in Bentley Priory, he was instrumental in developing the world’s first integrated air defence system which became known as ’The Dowding System’. It was highly complex for its day and reached over vast distances. It influenced the way the Battle was fought and played a key role in the eventual outcome. 2. Changing Town Changing town another billet, We are always on the move. Where they put us is our home now Even if we don’t approve. Narrator: There's just time to tell you about a remark reportedly made in 1940 by a commissionaire at one of the Service Clubs in London. Attempting to cheer up a downcast member he said: "Anyhow, sir, we're in the Final, and it's to be played on the Home Ground.” 3. Never in the field of human conflict Never in the field of human conflict was so much been owed by so many to so few. Narrator: During the Battle of Britain, the defence of the land depended heavily on the courage of some 3,000 British & Allied aircrew drawn from many countries. They became known as ‘The Few’. On average, the Battle of Britain pilots were about 20 years of age. Many of them had just a few weeks of training before they were thrown into battle. Over 500 died during those few months and almost a thousand more aircrew from Fighter Command were to die before the end of the War. |
4. Song of the evacuees
Last year they sent us to Brighton To be healthy by sea and by sand, But now it is clear, if the Germans appear We should all be much further inland. We remember the day we left London; Didn’t know where the journey would lead. Waved goodbye, shed a tear, told, “there’s nothing to fear,” One small case held the things we would need Changing town another billet, We are always on the move. Where they put us is our home now Even if we don’t approve. We stood in a cold village hall To be chosen by strangers, you see. Then off into the night, being very polite And hoping for boiled eggs for tea. For many there’s kindness and comfort But awful conditions for some, But, whatever our fate, we agree we can’t wait To get back to home and to mum. Changing town another billet, We are always on the move. Where they put us is our home now Even if we don’t approve. Narrator: ‘The Many’ fulfilled numerous roles during the Battle of Britain. One group worked in our next port of call, the Filter Room. This was the nerve centre of the Dowding System. Here a group of dedicated women, and men, worked around the clock receiving and collating vital information with which they could forecast enemy air attacks at the earliest possible time. This information was then passed to a series of operations rooms for deployment of aircraft into the skies above England and the Channel. All the language used in the Filter Room was designed to be readily understandable and unambiguous. 5. The Filter Room New Raid .. North East Freddie S for Sugar Fife-three .. Six-zero. Fighter. Fife-three .. Six-zero. Hostile! Wun fife plus at two seven, Speed two-fife-zero. The Many brought precision, observation and supplies, The One who had the vision, the Few who flew the skies. New Raid [etc.] |
Child 1: Look bombers, German bombers!
Child 2: And German fighters, loads of them! Child 3: Here come our Hurricanes! Child 4: And Spitfires! 6. The Pilot Song I want, I want to be a pilot Flying high up into the blue, I want to do my best and To be one, to be one of the few. I want to scramble with the squadron, Spitfire or Hurricane will do, I want to save the world And to be one, to be one of the few. Flying in the sky In a Spitfire or a Hurricane I wish that I could fight for freedom Flying high up into the blue I want to do my best And to be one, to be one of the few, Spitfire or Hurricane will do, I want to be one of the few, 7. On our own (reprise) Narrator: The Battle of Britain was over by the end of October 1940. Dowding’s vision, the bravery of ‘The Few’ and the valiant efforts of ‘The Many’ had combined to produce a famous victory. The conflict continued for another five years, but if the outcome of the Battle of Britain had been different, it is possible that the war might have been lost by the end of 1940. The debt that we and all future generations owe to Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding, The Few and The Many is incalculable. It is up to each of us to make sure that we ‘Never Forget’. 8. Never Forget Never forget, Never ever forget, Even though with the passing of years memories fade away. Never forget, We are all in their debt. And if Britain lasts for a thousand years or more, they’ll say, “This was our finest hour.” Changing town and moving billet, Sometimes happy, sometimes sad. Waiting for the war to end so we can be with mum and dad. Battle over, but the war still has some time to run. Dowding and his team can look back on a job well done. The Many brought precision, observation and supplies, The One who had the vision, the Few who flew the skies. Never forget [etc.] |