The Heinkel He-III was the most distinctive sight in the skies above Southern England, during the dark days of the Battle of Britain. The sight of the massed formations of the Luftwaffe’s main medium bomber is surely one of the most enduring images of the summer of 1940. This image surely demonstrates the incredible bravery of the young RAF pilots, who raced to engage the enemy, often in the face of overwhelming odds. Heinkel crews fought hard, but without effective fighter support, they suffered heavily at the hands of RAF fighters. Ultimately, the failure of the Luftwaffe to pound Britain into submission was to lead to the postponement of Operation Sealion and the eventual re-deployment eastwards




