Could YOU Survive a Dogfight During the Battle of Britain?

Can you survive this incredible dogfight with the legendary 303 Squadron during the middle of the Battle of Britain? You decide.

Hope you guys enjoyed this third episode of my “Can You Survive” Series. This one was important to me, as I really enjoy studying the Battle of Britain. I based the characters and story of this video on real members of 303 squadron, and an actual day of combat that they went through. The eventual outcomes of the characters in this video are as follows: Witold Lokuciewski (You) – Survived the war with 8 confirmed kills and 4 probable. Passed away in 1990, aged 73. Waclaw Lapkowski – Was actually shot down on this mission in September 5th 1940, after downing a Ju-88. Would be shot down by a 109 a year later in July of 1941 and killed in action at the age of 27. Ludwik Paszkiewicz – Scored 6 confirmed kills in the war. Was hit by a 109 three weeks after this mission on September 27th 1940. He would be killed in action as he tried to crash land his Hurricane.

This was made using the World War II flight simulator IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles series. Please like, comment, and subscribe. #WW2 #WWIIHistory #WarThunder

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[TJ]

Hope you guys enjoyed this third episode of my “Can You Survive” Series. This one was important to me, as I really enjoy studying the Battle of Britain. I based the characters and story of this video on real members of 303 Squadron, and an actual day of combat that they went through (Sept. 5 1940). The eventual outcomes of the characters in this video are as follows: Witold Lokuciewski (You) – Survived the war with 8 confirmed kills and 4 probable. Passed away in 1990, aged 73. Waclaw Lapkowski – Was actually shot down, but bailed out on this mission on September 5th 1940, after downing a Ju-88. Would be shot down by a Bf-109 a year later in July of 1941 and killed in action at the age of 27. Ludwik Paszkiewicz – Scored 6 confirmed kills in the war. Was hit by a 109 three weeks after this mission on September 27th 1940. He would be killed in action as he tried to crash land his Hurricane.

[tyleringle]

Always remember the Dicta Boelcke rule 1 always try to place yourself above and behind your enemy if possible.
Rule 2 try to place yourself between the sun and your enemy to conceal your position.
Rule 3 do not fire until you are within range of your target always fire in short bursts to save ammo.
Rule 4 Always try to catch your enemy off guard attack when he least expects it.
Rule 5 Never try to run away if you are attacked. Always turn into your attackers put them on the defense.
Rule 6 Always keep your eyes on your opponents do not fall for tricks always follow your attacker down until you see him crash.
Rule 7 When fighting together as a unit all pilots attack different targets. Always coordinate the attack with fellow pilots before attacking your enemy.

[neptunesorbit]

my great grandad escaped poland in ww2 (he did get sent to siberia before he could get to england and had to escape from there) and he joined the raf and they wanted him to be a pilot but he decided to be an engineer instead and then worked for avro after the war (specifically on the vulcan bomber). He was a great guy and the opening reminded me of him

[roberts]

Thank you especially for this Polish episode in your films.
The Battle of England was a deadly battle, where a new tactic of air combat was created and the formation changed to the one used by the Poles - the finger formation. I think the formation change was also due to the fact that there would be as few situations of attacks on the enemy as possible without the protection of the winger. This dilemma of fighting or defending a downed Hurricane is very instructive.
During the fight everything happened so quickly that the pilots did not have time to analyze. That is why they acted instinctively and in accordance with training, which is why Polish pilots achieved very good results, leading the squadrons with the highest number of kills.
Individual Polish pilots were also on internships in British squadrons as volunteers. For example Głowacki - an ace in one day who shot down 5 planes in one day.
Your video is very innovative and engaging for the viewer. I like this way of narration very much.
Greetings from Poland.

[jeffreycordle]

Since I am not a pilot I'd imagine surviving the air battle would be immaterial. I'd have been lucky to survive the take off. And if I didn't just end up dive bombing the ground trying to not get shot down. Chances are I'd probably not survive the landing. Especially considering that a fighter plane is hard to control while actually being taught 🤔

[dakosaurusrex]

Love the can you survive series. Maybe you could do one on tank combat next. Custom ground maps could provide a pretty good video

[speedfinder]

Could I mention, a lot, if not most of the Polish airmen who flew in this conflict, were already battle hardened airmen from early WW2 conflicts in late 1939. Some of them, were the very best pilots anywhere in Europe at the time. They had seen action in their own air force prior to the fall of Poland. The Polish air-force was underequipped during the commencement of the war. They made their experience count to deadly effect with better equipment in the Battle of Britain. We all owe these men a huge debt for their service and sacrifice.

[enigmawyoming]

I really like these “will you survive” plots. Unique, and of all things… interactive to some extent! Thanks!

[janiceduke]

"Repeat Please."
Squadron Leader Edwards : Stop that Polish chatter and steer two, three, zero.

Polish R.A.F. pilot : [Peals off to engage the Germans] Repeat please.

Squadron Leader Edwards : I say again, two, three, zero.

2nd Polish pilot : [Peals off to engage the Germans] Repeat please.

Air Vice Marshal Keith Park : For crying out loud, two, three, zero.

3rd Polish pilot : [Peals off to engage the Germans] Repeat please.

4th Polish pilot : [Peals off to engage the Germans] Repeat please.

5th Polish pilot : [Peals off to engage the Germans] Repeat please.

Squadron Leader Edwards : Now just shut up the lot of you. And follow me unless you're blind as well as... Oh

[Sees that all the Polish pilots have left to fight the Germans] . Squadron Leader Edwards : God's truth!

[jimc]

I'd be curious to see such an analysis on an exciting WW I aerial battle, TJ. I recall those first Atari or whatever rudimentary games we had as kids with biplanes and the same era with slow running ping pong. So, it would be cool to see a state-of-the-art computer graphic depiction similar to this quality applied to 90-110 mph warplanes of 105 years ago!! Jim C.

[paulmazan]

Very good although Checking 6 after the other Hurricane was shot down would have made the decision easier.

[densalbeach]

I had the pleasure of meeting Geoffrey Wellum, avgreat man who flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain. He wrote a book 'First Light' a great read. If this video captured your imagination I stongly recommend you get a copy of his book and tell his and Fighter Commands story to future generations. We, the many owe so much to them, the few!

[BD-ylmh]

I made all the right preparations for the attack but chose to leave my friend to regain altitude, in a way guessing that this video would at some point ask me to put emotion aside, but applying that at the wrong moment. If, in the real situation instinct had forced me to follow my friend, then again, I made the right decision to quickly turn my attention back to the fight and reassess

[jiffycomer]

I’m going to go with the humble approach. I got the first two right but then failed up until the last one I got right. In the real world, I can’t even imagine the bravery it took to do what these young men did. I don’t know if I’d have it in the same situation or not. Thanks to these young men and their sacrifice I’ve never had to find out. God bless them all

[buckrowe]

Absolutely loved this, Please do more! I'm rather pleased to say that I got all of the questions correct. That's probably because I wrote my History thesis paper in college on World War II Air Combat (specifically North Africa and Malta). Looking forward to the next one!

[derweibhai]

LOVE these, thanks TJ. Keep up the good work.

[tedh]

This was fun. Got a few of them right but I probably would have ended up dead or parachuting into the ocean praying for rescue. The last decision was perfect, there certainly was no wrong answer.

[panzerivausfg]

I'm not sure how i managed to pick the correct options for a third time in a row...
It's pretty impressive for me!
You should continue making these, they're verry enjoyable and informative !!

[pedrojuliancereceda]

Nice recreation! Now we, re the main characters of these dog fights! Awesome!

[craighansen]

This is a really interesting series. I learned that studying those identification were crucial.