British Planes That Won the War

An introduction to the Sopwith Camel and the historic significance of this war plane.

Rob reveals why the Spitfire became the most famous fighter aircraft that Britain has ever produced. Its unique design and powerful Merlin engine gave it superior handling in the close-quarter dogfights that took place across the skies in the crucial period of 1940 that became known as the Battle of Britain.

This week, Rob Bell takes us through the extraordinary story of how the Lancaster bomber played a crucial role in the outcome of World War II. For the first time, this giant plane enabled the Allied forces to take the fight to the enemy. The design for the new Lancaster bomber represented a major capability breakthrough for the Allies. Its four powerful Merlin engines allowed it to carry the largest bombs used by the RAF, including 12,000 lb blockbusters. Beyond its sheer power, the bomber represented the ‘total war' effort required of British citizens during WWII. Over 7,000 Lancasters were built across 10 different factories and, with men away fighting, women played the key role in constructing these vast war machines. Rob explores some of the most heroic Lancaster missions of WWII. For instance, the legendary and dramatic Dambusters raid, in which a bouncing bomb designed by Barnes Wallis was dropped on German targets in the Ruhr Valley, destroying dams and crippling German production capability. The scale and ambition of the Lancaster bomber project is brought to life by the very pilots who flew them and who continue to inspire aviation enthusiasts today.

The innovative Harrier was the first operational aircraft to employ vertical take-off and landing, or VTOL. Developed during the Cold War, the Harrier revolutionised airborne combat. Tactical experts were trying to overcome one of the basic drawbacks of the aeroplane — its reliance on runways, which are vulnerable to enemy bombing raids. Without operational runways or airstrips, an entire air force could effectively be grounded. Vertical take-off became the holy grail of air combat — and it materialised in the shape of the Harrier. The Harrier's maiden flight was in 1967, where it showcased how it propels air from its jet engine through four nozzles under the fuselage and how the nozzles can be angled downwards, lifting the plane straight up. This flexibility meant that Harriers could operate out of jungle clearings or from small helipads. Rob reveals the engineering design that went into producing such a game-changing fighter jet and how it contributed to the Cold War deterrent. We meet Harrier pilots who took part in its first combat operation in the Falklands War, and hear about the influential role that the planes played. The Harrier may now be retired from service in Britain, but its legacy continues to influence the modern jets of today's high-tech warfare.