On August 18, 1940, pilots of Britain's Royal Air Force and Germany's Luftwaffe engaged each other in intense combat on what came to be known as The Hardest Day. Having defeated the Allies in France and Norway, effectively driving them out of the European continent, the only thing the stood in the way of the German conquest of Western Europe was Great Britain. The only thing preventing the German invasion of Britain was the RAF, and soon the fight for control of the skies above the isle began with the Battle of Britain. For several months, RAF pilots and exiled aviators from the continent fought against German and Italian forces with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

The Hardest Day proved to be the most costly as both sides lost more aircraft on that day than on any other day combined. British losses amounted to 27-34 fighters destroyed in combat and a further 29 aircraft destroyed on the ground while German losses amounted to 69-71 aircraft destroyed. 10 British airmen were killed in action and a further 94 German airmen killed plus 40 captured. Further casualties were inflicted upon ground personnel, including 29 men killed during the Stuka raid on RAF Ford airfield.

The results of the battle favored neither side. While the British suffered fewer losses than the Germans, in both overall totals and in ratios between the two sides, neither could sustain them for long. However, control of Britain's skies was ultimately won by the brave pilots of the Royal Air Force and Britain was save from a possible German invasion.