The Few were the airmen of theRoyal Air Force (RAF) and the aviators of theFleet Air Arm,Royal Navy (RN) who fought theBattle of Britain in theSecond World War. The term comes fromWinston Churchill's phrase "Never, in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few." It also alludes toShakespeare's famous speech in his play,Henry V: "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers..."[1]
Nearly 3,000 men were awarded the"Battle of Britain" clasp. Six of the seven longest surviving veterans of the battle (Squadron LeaderJohn Hart, Flight Lieutenant Archie McInnes, Flight LieutenantMaurice Mounsdon, Air Vice-MarshalJohn Thornett Lawrence, Wing CommanderPaul Farnes and Flight LieutenantWilliam Clark) died between June 2019 and May 2020 as of 8 May 2020. The last survivor of The Few, Group CaptainJohn Hemingway, died on 17 March 2025, aged 105.[2] The Royal Air Force called it "the end of an era".[3]
By one tally, British RAF aircrew numbered 2,353 (80%) of the total of 2,927 flyers involved, with 407 Britons killed from a total of 510 losses. The remainderwere not British, many coming from parts of theBritish Empire (particularlyNew Zealand,Canada,Australia, andSouth Africa), as well as exiles from many conquered European nations, particularly fromPoland andCzechoslovakia. Other countries supplying smaller numbers includedBelgium,France,Ireland (serving in the RAF as Ireland was officially neutral),Southern Rhodesia and theUnited States.[4][5][6][7]
Winston Churchill summed up the effect of the battle and the contribution of RAF Fighter Command, RAF Bomber Command, RAF Coastal Command and the Fleet Air Arm with the words, "Never in the field of human conflict wasso much owed by so many to so few".[8] Pilots who fought in the battle have been known asThe Few ever since; at times being specially commemorated on 15 September, "Battle of Britain Day". On this day in 1940, the Luftwaffe embarked on their largest bombing attack yet, forcing the engagement of the entirety of RAF 11 Group in defence of London and the South East, which resulted in a decisive British victory that proved to mark a turning point in Britain's favour.[9][10]
The aircrew are remembered on theBattle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne, Kent, and their names are listed on theBattle of Britain Monument in London. The Battle of Britain Roll of Honour is held inWestminster Abbey in theRAF Chapel, and is paraded annually during the Service of Thanksgiving and re-dedication onBattle of Britain Sunday[broken anchor].[11]
There is a preservedHawker Hurricane fighter aircraft known as "The Last of The Many"—a reference to the 1942 filmThe First of the Few starringLeslie Howard asR.J. Mitchell, designer of the Spitfire—which flies as part of theBattle of Britain Memorial Flight, along with aSupermarine Spitfire that flew in the Battle (one of five Spitfires in the Memorial Flight). As the Hurricane was the last production model of that type, it did not itself fly in the Battle.
In 2022 a sculpture, theSpirit of the Few Monument, was unveiled at theKent Battle of Britain Museum.[12]
The Battle of Britain was considered officially by the RAF[13] to have been fought between 10 July and 31 October 1940.
The leadingaces of the Battle of Britain (between 10 July and 31 October 1940) were:[14]
| Rank | Pilot | Nationality | Squadron | Aircraft | Kills | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flt LtEric Lock |  United Kingdom | 41 | Spitfire | 21 | Total 26 kills.MIA 3 August 1941. |
| 2 | Sqn LdrArchie McKellar | United Kingdom | 605 | Hurricane | 19 | Total 21 (possibly 22) three probable and three damaged. 5 Bf 109's on 7 October 1940.KIA 1 November 1940. |
| 3 | SgtJames Lacey | United Kingdom | 501 | Hurricane | 18 (23 by end of November) | Total 28 kills. |
| 4 | SgtJosef František |  Czechoslovakia | 303 | Hurricane | 17 | Killed 8 October 1940. |
| 5 | Fg OffBrian Carbury |  New Zealand | 603 | Spitfire | 15 +1⁄2 | |
| 6 | Fg OffWitold Urbanowicz |  Poland | 145 and303 | Hurricane | 15 | Total 18 (possibly 20) kills. |
| 7 | Plt OffColin Gray | New Zealand | 54 | Spitfire | 14 +1⁄2 | Total 27.7 kills. |
| 8 | Plt OffBob Doe | United Kingdom | 234 and238 | Spitfire / Hurricane | 14(+ 2 shared) | |
| 9 | Flt LtPaterson Hughes |  Australia | 234 | Spitfire | 14 +5⁄6 | KIA 7 September 1940. |
| 10 | Sqn LdrMichael Crossley | United Kingdom | 32 | Hurricane | 14 | Wartime total 22 victories. |
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The Few, a novel byAlex Kershaw, tells the stories of the men who flew in the Battle of Britain. As of 2003[update], a Hollywood film similarly namedThe Few was in preparation for release in 2008, based on the story of real-life U.S. pilotBilly Fiske, who ignored his country's neutrality rules and volunteered for the RAF. AVariety magazine outline of the film's historical content[16] was said inThe Independent to have been described by Bill Bond, who conceived theBattle of Britain Monument in London, as "Totally wrong. The whole bloody lot."[17]
"One of the Few", a song by British bandPink Floyd from their albumThe Final Cut (1983), describes a war veteran's return from the battlefield, specifically a pilot from the Battle of Britain, to pursue teaching, which connects to "The Hero's Return", another song from the album which is sung from the veteran's perspective. TheHorrible Histories song called “The Few” commemorates the airmen and women, includingSir Douglas Bader.
