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Monday, August 30, 2010

The faces of "the Few"


I know everyone has their demons that hinder and slow us down and make our lives weary... however I simply cannot help but look at this picture and feel that my life is hardly all that difficult. Pictured here is newly promoted Squadron Leader Brian John Edward Lane, Officer Commanding of No. 19 Squadron of the Royal Air Force. Take a good look at this picture and try to guess how old he is.

He is photographed during the height of the Battle of Britain, September of 1940 at the helm of the aforementioned historic No. 19 Squadron, having received his post following the death of the previous squadron leader. At this point in the battle, Lane had fought in the Battle of France that May and June, helping protect embattled British and French soldiers during the harrowing evacuation of Dunkirk. The Allies lost the Battle of France. By this point to many, including the still neutral USA, it looked like they were going to lose the Battle of Britain as well. I on the other hand, look at this face and I don't see defeat. I see strain, I see hardship etched into every line of his prematurely aged face, but I don't see defeat. Instead I see determination, I see grit, and I see sadness.

There are no smiles here. Men just returned from another hard fight, almost always with less planes coming back than went out. That was the reality these men lived in for almost a year, from the late spring of 1940 through spring of 1941. The enemy they faced, the German Luftwaffe, outmanned them, outgunned them, and had a years' worth of combat experience under its belt. This was the great test in that moment of history; after Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Norway and France had all fallen, and Italy being part of the Axis and Spain under control of a Fascist regime every bit as ruthless as Germany's, all eyes were on Britain. The war for the soul of Europe for that one year rested solely on their shoulders. We here in the USA offered little help. We sent no planes, we sent no pilots, we sent no ships, and we sent no soldiers. Britain was seemingly a force alone.

Forget fanciful images from films like "Pearl Harbor", of American volunteers risking criminal prosecution and lost citizenship back at home to gallantly help the beleaguered Great Britain to victory, the total amount of US airmen who flew during the actual Battle of Britain was between seven and ten. Our sole contribution to the actual fighting. Almost 150 Polish airmen fought in the battle however, even after England failed utterly to live up to its promise to assist Poland in the event of a German invasion. One in every eight pilots in the RAF during the battle was Polish.

We in the US, however, were neutral and would remain so for nearly another year and a half. The first full squadron of volunteer US pilots in RAF uniforms didn't become active until February of 1941, well after the majority of the fighting of the battle had wound down as the Germans prepared to invade the Soviet Union instead. The squadron itself was formed and being trained in September 1940, at the time this picture was taken. We have no right to take any pride from Allied victory in the Battle of Britain, or even pretend we do. But really, Britain was not alone. Apart from the Poles, scores of Czech, French, Norwegian, Belgian, Danish, and other pilots had all escaped to Britain. In fact the highest scoring RAF unit of the conflict was No. 303 (Polish) Squadron, which only entered combat on the final day of August 1940. On top of that many pilots from around the Commonwealth, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, all flocked to the homeland in its hour of need.

It would be over another year from when this photograph was taken before the US signed the Lend-Lease Act and started sending aid to Great Britain in earnest in exchange for Caribbean naval bases. It would be another year and a half almost from this photograph until we actually entered the war, and almost another two years from this photograph before we started sending our army air force in earnest to England to carry out the bombing campaign against occupied France and Germany. And even then, we were woefully unprepared to carry our weight. We talk of American victories and American military might when without Great Britain it never would have happened. They gave us staging areas, they taught us tactics and took us under their proverbial and even literal wings.

This was a different conflict, a different time. These were desperate and dedicated young men. Our soldiers on the ground today do not face the same struggles that Lane and his comrades did. No one but those who were there and then in that shining moment can have any idea what it possibly felt like; those of us alive today can only taste it. Fighting to keep anything resembling morale as your airfields, factories, and finally cities are all bombed mercilessly for months on end and no matter how many times you go up and how fewer and fewer of you return every time the enemy never seems to break or lessen their assault. Yet they held, they held strong and they kept fighting. And in the end that determination paid off in victory that I think won the war in Europe. Without a British victory in the Battle of Britain there would have been no launching point for a Normandy invasion, nowhere for the streams of Allied strategic and tactical bombers to break down the German war machine and fighting spirit bit by bit. This moment and these young men were the ones who beat Germany; they kept the light going and the door open for the future.

Let’s go back to the picture now. This was the face of that battle; very weary, very young, but very determined young men. Whatever your guess was at his age from the beginning, he was only twenty three at the time of this picture. He's not photogenic. The lower half of his face is markedly paler than the upper half from being covered by a flight mask after spending much of every day flying. The frown-lines between his eyebrows are very pronounced, he even appears to have bit of a wandering left eye if you look close enough, and you can. But he looks back at the camera, right back at you, and he's unwavering, isn't he? This is the face of Brian John Edward Lane, and this is the face of the Battle of Britain. Lane was not the highest scorer of the battle, not by a long shot. In fact he just barely made 'ace', which is to say he shot down 5 or more enemy aircraft, with a final score of 6. The man to his left, our right, George Unwin, downed over twice as many as Lane. And unlike Lane, Unwin survived the war. Lane on the other hand finally met his fate in combat over the North Sea in December of 1942. Yet it is Lane who we remember today. Because Lane didn't have a low score because of lack of ability, he had leadership thrust on him at a young age and carried his torch well. He dedicated himself to leading his men and the success of the unit over personal glory. The photo shows Lane as he was; a hard-working, no nonsense leader who wanted to win.

Look hard at this photograph. This is the face of a hero. Of a common man who fought a grand fight. And even if it claimed his life, he has in fact survived until today, hasn't he? Even knowing that he only lived two years beyond this photograph, maybe it's just me but I don't see death in Lane's face... do you? I see someone determined to keep going, even if it does kill him. That's a powerful thing, a force of will we all should have, don't you think? It's decidedly missing in today's world, the drive, the desire to win and keep going no matter how long the odds. I know some may argue that our enemies have it today, blowing themselves to smithereens in desperate attempts to kill us, but that's not the same thing, not by a long shot. Fighting to defeat your enemy even if it kills you will always win over killing yourself to kill your enemy. It didn't work for the Japanese in World War II and it won't work now. We should all learn something from this picture, learn something from this small moment in history and move forward with our lives, and keep fighting, even if it kills us, but with a hope for a future all the same. In that way we can all be heroes can't we? We can help keep the spirit of the "Few" alive. We can make sure that the sacrifices of those like Lane don’t go forgotten, or those who're putting their own lives on the line today. The very soul of our modern times depends on it.

(credit to image from militaryimages.net, photograph by Stanley Devon, September 1940)

27 comments:

  1. Superb piece of writing and I agree 100% with the sentiments therein. Britain in particular and the free world in general owe so much to the brave young pilots of the RAF.

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  2. A wonderful and powerful piece of writing that epitomises and captures the fighting spirit of Churchill's "Few" to whom the free world today, seventy years on, owes everything.

    "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers."

    Andy Saunders

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  3. Well said.
    One American who fought and died in the battle lies in my local cemetery. Visited Hugh Reilly's grave recently.
    They are not forgotten by us where ever they came from.
    Mike Mitchell.

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  4. Very evocative and extremely humbling. We can all learn and derive strength from their spirit and carry it forward for our future and the future of our children, because that's what the good men like Lane fought (and sadly all too many died) for. Keep believing.

    God bless them all

    Mandy Eeles

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  5. He is one of our 101 Battle of Britain men born in Yorkshire, June 18th 1917 in Harrogate.
    But he was educated at St Pauls School, which I expect was the London St Pauls.
    Nice photo for our records
    Mark Andrew
    Battle of Britain Historical Society
    Halifax, Yorkshire

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  6. Thank you everyone for appreciating the significance of this, piece, it tells me I accomplished my goal in raising the awareness. This page has received over 700 views in the last 36 hours, which is astounding to me to say the least. thank you all again! And thank you very much for that further information Mark! It's wonderful to learn more about the man who's image has haunted me for nearly a decade. I'm indebted to you sir!

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  7. A moment in time forever remembered.Well done

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  8. Great peice of writing, well done. Thanks for raising the profile of the Battle, and that Britain Her Commonwealth and those from those parts of Europe under the Nazi heal continued to fight, even when the outlook was bleak.

    Lest we forget

    Nick Dixon

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  9. Fantastic piece of writing,I've read scores of books about the Battle of Britain over the years and this moved me as much as anything I've read.
    Nathan,I'm sure you know this,Brian Lane wrote a book called Spifire that was published during the war,it was incorporated into a book called Spitfire squadron by Dilip Sakar a few years ago.

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  10. just caught up with this post.
    Superb writing job, well done.

    we, those who came after, owe so much, such an enormous debt, that we will NEVER be able to repay their sacrifices.

    All we CAN do is honour them, and their memory when they have gone, and keep on reminding the upcoming generations that there are more important things than the next burger or Xbox game.

    "...At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we shall remember Them."

    Phil.

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  11. @Spits/Nick: Thank you very kindly for your sentiments, it's heartening to know so many agree with how important these men where and their sacrifice.

    @Chris: I am actually, though I have not had time to read it. I have it bookmarked from Amazon though to buy as soon as my first expendable income starts coming in from this fall. What's interesting is I don't think the book was ever reprinted until Sakar's book actually, or at least never updated.

    @Phil, uk: So true, and it's all I tried to do. Pay tribute to these great men who came before us and made all we have possible. It's very sad to me the price the western world has paid for its success that has allowed so many of us to forget how we got where we are. I'll never forget, and I'll never stop trying to help us remember. I encourage everyone to do the same.

    Many think even in today's climate that militaries are a thing of the past, and we don't need them as much anymore and we can forget about that past. This view has repeated itself over and over again and is always proven wrong. There is no dishonor in serving your country in a time of war or conflict, no matter what side you're on. The better we remember them the better we'll be prepared for the struggles that lie ahead. Thank you all.

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  12. This is an extremely well written article with which I concur wholeheartedly, with the exception of one statement in paragraph 4 : ‘’England failed utterly to live up to its promise to assist Poland in the event of a German invasion.’’

    When Germany invaded Poland on 1st September 1939, the British Government issued an ultimatum that, if the invading troops had not withdrawn by 11.00 on 3rd September, a state of war would exist between Britain and Germany.

    The deadline passed, the Germans failed to withdraw, and Britain therefore went to war to honour its promise to Poland. I think you will agree, that was quite a commitment.

    There was little that we … I am English … could do in practical terms to physically intervene in Poland at that time, but Britain did at least provide a base from which escaping Poles (and soldiers, sailors and airmen from other occupied countries) had the opportunity to hit back at their Nazi oppressors.

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  13. What did bringing "Pearl Harbor" into this piece have to do with anything? All in all it is a great piece of writing until you seemingly told your audience to forget about the Americans that flew in the battle. Pilot Officer Arthur G. Donahue who grew up and learned to fly 30 miles from where I live was the first American to fly in the battle and he even wrote two books while in the RAF. And yes, the 7 Americans did face criminal prosecution and lose their citizenship if caught by the US government. So that little bit that you wrote about that leads people to think that that did not happen, which it did. I highly suggest those that want to know about the 7 Americans that flew in the battle read the book called "The Few" by Alex Kershaw.

    Sadly, Pilot Officer Arthur G. Donahue did not survive the war, he was killed in action over the English Channel on September 11, 1942.

    Great piece of writing but the Americans that flew with the RAF were just as brave and determined as their European brothers in arms.

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  14. I don't think the writer meant to belittle the American aide that was given, what little there was in the beginning, but to take the gilded picture painted by Hollywood in the film "Pearl Harbor" and show it for what it really was. These few who went over were very brave to do so and risk losing everything however whether or not thier presence turned the tide of battle or not, it was the Brits who started the defense of their country and others. Without thier "grit" and "detrimation", who knows what would have happened?

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  15. Firstly, @the last anonymous, thank you for your support. That is exactly what I was saying in that regard.

    @Martin: I think to be honest, that is a question of point of view. To your point of view, you see England actually declaring war when many were so staunchly against war at the time as a contribution, at least that is how I interpret that, if I'm wrong I apologize. To me however, I see an agreement having been made. A mutual defense pact was signed. However, when England declared war, it did mobilize. It moved 25 divisions of troops to France, the BEF, or British Expeditionary Force. Germany sent 51 divisions of troops against Poland's 39, 25 divisions of troops would have been a major asset. It also could potentially have deterred the Soviet Union from invading two weeks into the battle as they did, which some think was the actual point at which Poland was completely defeated. The Germans, if you look into the campaign, were actually not fairing as well as history has lead people to believe.

    That being said, those 25 divisions in France coupled with the 80-90 divisions of the French Army stood against 30-40 divisions of German troops that remained during the Polish campaign, depending on the source. I haven't been able to find exact numbers, they vary from place to place, so I'm approximating but ww2total.com does have detailed lists of troop dispositions for September 1939 between the four armies (France, England, Poland and Germany). England and France could have put a royal hurting on Germany from their flank. Instead, the RAF dropped leaflets and flew reconnaissance missions (which if effective probably should have pointed out that German troop strength had been significantly lowered), while France launched the Saar Offensive on a front where about 40 French divisions were squared off against 20 German ones, yet France only saw fit to advance 5km, and it wasn't for stiff resistance.

    Basically, what it comes down to is in September of 1939, Germany called your bluff. It's a sad fact, but from that England rose when their own dire moment came and they outlasted the Germans and they won, and as I've said, and stand behind, it was that which potentially (again, just a point of view thing) won the war by making all future campaigns possible in the first place. That is a powerful thing, and take great pride in that. But you did at least do far more than the US did.

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  16. @Anonymous: "What did bringing "Pearl Harbor" into this piece have to do with anything?" To a veteran of the battle who fought bravely day by day watching an American coming over with no prior combat experience and seemingly being a one man air force? Everything. Seven to ten men can be very brave, (the number varies depending on the source because a good number of the pilots were almost more English/Canadian than they were American) but they do not win battles. Especially in a force of almost 3,000 pilots. 32 Australians, 28 Belgians, 112 Canadians, 13 French, 89 Czechs, 127 New Zealanders and 145 Poles, plus Barbados, Jamaica and Rhodesia that had 1, 1, and 3 fought there respectively, on top of the 2,340 English pilots. In that, seven to ten is a drop in the bucket, and a sad representation of our nation's willingness to help in spite of England's pleas. This piece was a wake-up call to Americans, not a pat on the back.

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  17. Yes a Picture i've, looked at many a time with much thought and respect for the brave Few.

    May i pay you full compliments Sir, on writting such a moving piece well done and thankyou deeply

    it should be laid down on a brass plaque for all to read for an iternaty

    Lest We Forget.

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  18. As Brians Cousin I found this a very moving story indeed and on behalf of the Lane family thank you most sincerely for sharing Brians story with so many. Milavia

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  19. Kliennak,

    If you never write anything else, ever, you will never better this piece for the sheer emotional common sense value that you have captured in a few paragraphs that others have wasted books on.

    This deserves an award. Consider my text here as a 'best I have ever read' award, if nothing else.

    Yours, Bryan from England

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  20. This great story also sheds light on the many US fighter pilots and gunners who fought and died anonymously, fighting the very fascist ideals that have resurfaced in our United States of America today. Religious intolerance, racism, neo-conservatism and just plain anti-Americanism has continued to rear its ugly head in this great land of ours. And if the lives of those brave young men in the article, who fought against fascism then, are to be properly respected, we must fight again for the same principles they fought for today. Fascism, racism, religious intolerance and a total disrespect for our leaders is threatening the very fabric of our society. Unless we learn to respect one another and live together in today's pluralistic world, we are certainly going to die together if we don't come together. If we continue to inflame and galvanize the rest of the world against us and at the same time, inflame each other and fight among ourselves we are doomed. We can't fight all battles on all fronts and expect to win. We would be simply outnumbered. We need to rethink our feelings toward our neighbors and learn to reason together for the survival of our human species, but also for the survival of our planet.

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  21. To Bryan: Thank you very kindly for your response, but I fully admit that even if this piece is difficult to top, I will do my utmost to keep the same feeling going in all of my future posts.

    To Anonymous: I thank you for honoring our own veterans and lost ones from that time of conflict, but I really tried to keep politics out of the piece, it was much more a social commentary than wanting to bring politics into this. However, I encourage you to look through some of my other posts, such as this one:

    http://ayoungmanscommonsense.blogspot.com/2010/04/brief-history-lesson-on-american.html

    Thank you again for your support and please enjoy the rest of my pieces as well.

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  22. What a wonderful piece of writing - as you so rightly pointed out young men such as Lane were fighting for the very fabric of our nation, day in day out with barely time to rest between missions. How can we ever repay the debt of honour and gratitude we owe them? Sadly, looking at the world we live in today I often reflect on the fact that we seemed to have learnt nothing from their brave and ultimate sacrifice. So many young men old before their time from the shattering weight bearing down on them daily as they fought to kill or be killed.

    For me, the mere sight or sound of a Spitfire or Hurricane affects me deeply and always will for all of the above reasons.

    "Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
    And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
    Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -
    and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -
    wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
    Hovering there I've chased the shouting wind along
    and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.
    "Up, up the long delirious burning blue
    I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
    where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
    and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
    the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
    put out my hand and touched the face of God."

    'High Flight' by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. (1922 - 1941), Spitfire pilot RCAF.

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  23. Posted by Redguard.

    Interestingly WW2 pilot John Freeborn, aged 90, sadly passed away on 28th August 2010.

    He was a distinguished pilot who reportedly flew more operational hours than any other RAF pilot during the Battle of Britain. He was laterly a resident of Birkdale, which is north of Liverpool......

    http://blogs.liverpoolecho.co.uk/forcesfavourite/2010/09/tributes-as-ww2-pilot-john-fre.html

    http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/southport-news/southport-southport-news/2010/09/03/tributes-paid-to-raf-legend-john-freeborn-who-died-in-southport-aged-90-101022-27189774/

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  24. A tragedy to be sure, Redguard, we are losing them all too quickly these days, in a time when they're the least appreciated...

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  25. What a wonderful article, my father was a fighter pilot in WWII (after the U.S. actually got involved).

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  26. Thanks MiO, what unit was he in? I may have heard of him or could find more info.

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  27. I have some pretty good WWII photos, I left my email address on my blog. Write to it, and I'll send you some, and some more info.

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