大象传媒

The Phoney War ends.

The Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, broadcast the beginning of the war from 10 Downing Street at 11.15am on September 3rd, 1939. Almost immediately London experienced the first air-raid warning. This turned out to have been a mistake. Thereafter for quite a few months there was quiet over the skies of England and the children were evacuated to the country in preparation for the air-raids that were surely to come to pass later.

The so-called 'phoney war' continued for a while, but by September 1940 the German aircraft were attacking industrial targets, mostly in the Midlands and targets in southern England. These air-raid warnings were in daylight and Goering boasted that he would soon destroy our air defences and they would then be able to start their invasion.

This was the beginning of the 'real' war and the skies - particularly seen from the south of London - were full of our Spitfires swirling and twisting around the German bombers. The planes were taking off from their defence areas, but they quickly broke into individual 'dog-fights'. September 15th was a crucial date and Goering became aware that daylight bombing was not going to defeat our R.A.F pilots. Mr.Churchill described our pilots as "British airmen who, undaunted by numerical odds, and unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of world war by their prowess and devotion." He finished with his famous tribute, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."

It was said that Goering was blustering that his bombers would soon have England ready for a walk-over. Hitler kept postponing events invasion dates because the odds were too great. But, though he adjourned the invasion, he ordered preparations to be maintained and attacks in daylight were replaced by night raids.

Television had, of course, stopped with the beginning of war, though of course broadcasting went on, with those whose work had stopped now taking part by being members of the B.B.C Home Guard.

In the Metereolgical Office of the Air Ministry work of course continued, but in order to avoid staff having to go home during the night raids, their shifts were changed from three eight-hour in 24 hours to one eight hours and one 16 hour a day! Staff were able to sleep for a couple of hours in the middle of the night by going down into the basement where they slept on cots covered with a rough blanket. One could see rats walking along the large heating pipes above but they did not seem to worry the staff!

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