1963: England: YESTERDAY'S BIG STORY The Battle of Britain began on August 8th; 1940; when the German air force tried to drive the English to their knees with a rain of bombs. Within ten months more than 50;000 bombs fell on London alone; plus thousands of incendiaries. The British shook their fists in defiance; took all that the Nazis could dish out; and; despite 30;000 casualties Londoners had the unquenchable spirit that triumphed over evil and sent Hitler to defeat.