BATTLE OF BRITAIN WEEKEND - TV GUIDE!!

BBC4 SATURDAY 18 SEP 1900 -2000 AND 2100-2200

An evening dedicated to the Battle of Britain, bringing together World War Two historians, Battle of Britain veterans and the modern RAF for in-depth discussion, sharp analysis and rare archive footage.   Newsnight presenter Gavin Esler and his guests investigate how Britain prepared for a war in the sky, compare first-hand experiences of air combat and explore the strengths and weaknesses of the RAF and the Luftwaffe as they faced one another in 1940.

BBC4 SATURDAY 18 SEP 2000-2100

SPITFIRE WOMEN

During World War Two, a remarkable band of female pilots fought against all odds for the right to aid the war effort. Without these Spitfire Women the war may never have been won.  These trailblazers were part of the Air Transport Auxillary, a thousand-strong organisation that delivered aircraft to the frontline RAF during Britain's darkest hours. Every day, responsibility fell on their shoulders to get the planes to the fighters which often pushed them into dangerous and even deadly situations.  Using interviews with the last few surviving veterans, archive footage and dramatic reconstruction, this documentary brings to life the forgotten story of the ATA. The resilience of these women in the face of open discrimination is one of the most inspiring and overlooked milestones in women's rights. Their story is one of courage, sexism and patriotism, but above all a story about women who want to break the confines of the world they live in and reach for the skies.

BBC 1 SUNDAY 19 SEP 1200-1340

BATTLE OF BRITAIN SERVICE OF COMMEMORATION

BBC1’s coverage of the Battle of Britain Service of Commemoration from Westminster Abbey will broadcast from 1200 - 1340 hrs on Sunday 19 September.

BBC 1 2030 SUNDAY 19 SEP

THE REAL BATTLE OF BRITAIN

To mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain Ewan and Colin McGregor present a special 90 minute feature length documentary looking at what is to date the most significant air battle in British history. The brothers relive the experiences of young airmen in a bid to find out what it was like to live and fight through the air battle discovering how 'the few' of the RAF saved Britain from invasion by the Nazis.

For Colin, a former 20 year veteran RAF pilot it's a chance to see if his modern jet fighter training compares to the seat-of-the-pants skills needed to master a Supermarine Spitfire, while Ewan investigates the iconic workhorse of the Battle of Britain, the Hawker Hurricane.  Along the way the brothers meet some of the heroes who fought in the battle some 70 years before and meet pilots, radar operators and ground-crew who instruct and guide them through their own “Battle of Britain”. Summing up the making of the documentary, Ewan said, “The Battle of Britain was a dramatic turning point in the history of the Second World War and a defining moment in world history. It was a privilege for Colin and I to make this documentary; not only to mark the 70th anniversary itself, but to be able to pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who fought during the battle”.

BBC4 SATURDAY 20 SEP 2100-2200

SPITFIRE WOMEN

During World War Two, a remarkable band of female pilots fought against all odds for the right to aid the war effort. Without these Spitfire Women the war may never have been won.  These trailblazers were part of the Air Transport Auxillary, a thousand-strong organisation that delivered aircraft to the frontline RAF during Britain's darkest hours. Every day, responsibility fell on their shoulders to get the planes to the fighters which often pushed them into dangerous and even deadly situations.  Using interviews with the last few surviving veterans, archive footage and dramatic reconstruction, this documentary brings to life the forgotten story of the ATA. The resilience of these women in the face of open discrimination is one of the most inspiring and overlooked milestones in women's rights. Their story is one of courage, sexism and patriotism, but above all a story about women who want to break the confines of the world they live in and reach for the skies.