page_title: The Few
section_title: Legacy
hierarchical_section_title: The Few / Legacy
caption_attribution_description: English: A poster quoting Churchill's words on the pilots of the Battle of Britain
context_page_description: The Few were the airmen of the Royal Air Force and the aviators of the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy who fought the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. The term comes from Winston Churchill's phrase "Never, in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few." It also alludes to Shakespeare's famous speech in his play, Henry V: "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers..."
context_section_description: 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 was so much owed by so many to so few". Pilots who fought in the battle have been known as The 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 the RAF 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.
caption: World War II poster containing the famous lines by Winston Churchill
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