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Article: `A Few' Good Men Saved the Day.(memories of the 1940 Battle of Britain)
- Article from:
- Insight on the News
- Article date:
- September 20, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Uncommon valor was the common characteristic of the British, whose decisive aerial dogfight against the Luftwaffe inspired the United States to enter WW II.
Shots from a Nazi fighter plane pierce the air around Johnny Cock, a helpless, wounded British Royal Air Force, or RAF, pilot. It is Aug. 11, 1940, in the midst of the Battle of Britain, and the dogfight has forced him from his plane above the British coastline. Now Cock, an Australian from the 87th squadron, is parachuting toward the ground. Darts of pain shoot up his arm. Cock looks down to see haft of his plane's radio embedded in his shoulder. Surely this is pain enough, but there seems to be no escape as ...