Top 10 Biggest Air Battles in War History

The Battle of Britain

Technically a series of battles and skirmishes, the aerial fighting over the United Kingdom and the English Channel is traditionally viewed as one long, extended battle. Germany wanted to bomb England into submission or gain air superiority in advance of a German invasion. To this end, they hurled over 2,500 aircraft at the embattled island, in the first major battle in history to be fought exclusively by aircraft and anti-air forces. England had fewer than 2,000 aircraft. The Germans were able to attack when and where they liked, while British pilots remained at constant alert for three and a half months. These conditions would break most fighting forces, and by October 31, 1940, Britain had lost nearly 80% of its available aircraft. But the Germans were unable to capitalize on this unprecedented destruction — Luftwaffe losses had come out to nearly 75%. The remaining number of aircraft were insufficient to provide cover for an invasion, the British people remained defiant, and the Nazi war machine had been struck its first significant defeat.