by Scott Parrino, 26 August 2026
It’s September 15, 1940 and Germany’s Luftwaffe is looking to knock out the Royal Air Force in one large raid to finally bring about air superiority over the beleagured island nation. If the Luftwaffe could lure the RAF’s Spitfires and Hurricanes into a decisive battle over London, then Adolf Hitler’s plan to invade Britain with Operation Sea Lion could finally come to fruition.
Since July earlier that year, the Luftwaffe conducted countless bombing missions and fighter sweeps against Britain’s ports, airfields, and radar stations in preparation for the invasion of Britain. While there are some victories for the Luftwaffe in the air, the RAF proves itself as a stalwart defender of Britain’s skies. With the advantage of home court, the RAF can shoot down fighters and bombers and capture pilots and crew, while any RAF pilots bailing out could just as easily be back up in another plane in a few hours.
click to really enlarge
By September, Hitler has grown impatient with the Luftwaffe’s lack of progress, and pushes for something more decisive and final so that the RAF won’t be bombing and strafing his landing crafts and troops trying to land on Britain’s shores. September 15 was chosen as the day for the massive aerial raid; the Luftwaffe would throw nearly 1,200 fighters and bombers against the RAF’s 600 fighters sent up for defence. By the end of the day, 80 Luftwaffe craft are destroyed or too damaged for repair with
200 pilots and aircrew killed, captured, wounded, or missing. The RAF suffer significantly less losses in both aircraft and aircrew.
Seeing that the RAF was not backing down, and that the Luftwaffe still struggled to bring any sort of decisive victory, Hitler decides to postpone Operation Sea Lion and move to nightime bombing raids on London, which became known as the Blitz. Ultimately, the Battle of Britain becomes a major victory for Britain and its allies.
So you think you can do it better
Think you can lead the Luftwaffe to victory in the skies? Or run the RAF more efficiently? Here is a list of games to put down on your tabletop to try your hand
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Battle of Britain (2017) (PSC Games) An upgraded version that has streamlined rules, along with shorter scenarios or do a full campaign. Captures the overall Battle of Britain campaign. |
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Undaunted: Battle of Britain (2023) (Osprey Games)
One of the more recent Battle of Britain titles, but in deck-builder form. Contains short scenarios with a smaller area of operations. |
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RAF: The Battle of Britain 1940 (2009) (Decision Games)
With this game you can play solitaire (because let’s face it, the family dog is terrible at following proper turn order) as either the RAF or the Luftwaffe. Although adding an opponent allows the Luftwaffe player to plan raids in secret. Wider-scope and with more detail and advanced rules. |
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The Burning Blue: The Battle of Britain, 1940 (2006) (GMT Games)
Full Battle of Britain scope and campaign, from it’s start to to the end. No solitaire play, and game length means you’ll have to be ready to spend a good chunk of the day with someone as equally into air strategy as you are. |
there are many others; these are just a few favorites
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