Laurence Olivier credited as playing...
Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding
- Senior civil servant: Damn it, man! We've got 650 planes!
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: And they have 2,500 aircraft, haven't they?
- Senior civil servant: They won't come all over at once and we have radar. Churchill puts great faith in radar.
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: It's vital, but it won't shot down aircraft.
- Senior civil servant: Ha! Well I must say you don't exactly exude a spirit of optimism.
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: God willing we will hold out minister.
- Senior civil servant: I see. So I tell the cabinet, that you're trusting in radar and praying to God, is that right?
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: [chuckles] More accurately the other way round. Trusting in God and praying for radar. But the essential arithmetic is that our young men will have to shoot down their young men at the rate of four to one, if we're to keep pace at all.
- [With the aid of an interpreter, Edwards has berated the Polish pilots for attacking German bombers against orders, before pulling a telegram out of his pocket]
- Squadron Leader Edwards: Finally, and God alone knows why, I've received the following signal:
- [looks down]
- Squadron Leader Edwards: "Congratulations! As of today, this Squadron is operational." Signed, Air Vice Marshall Keith Park, AOC 11 Group
- [the men start cheering, and Squadron Leader Edwards smirks, before the scene changes to Dowding's office]
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: I was wrong about the Poles.
- Air Vice Marshal Keith Park: We also have the second Polish Squadron.
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: [Donning his cap] I *thought* you'd mention them. Allright, make them operational.
- Air Vice Marshal Keith Park: And the Canadians?
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: And the Czechs. We need them *all!*
- [They exit]
- Permanent Secretary of State for Air: You do appreciate, Dowding, that Churchill will have to see this.
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: That's why I wrote it.
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: Gentlemen, you're missing the essential truth. We're short of 200 pilots. Those we have are tired, strained, and all overdue for relief. We're fighting for survival. Losing. We don't need a big wing or a small wing. We need pilots. - And a miracle.
- Air Vice Marshal Keith Park: Looks like London again, sir.
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: Yes.
- Air Vice Marshal Keith Park: And there's nothing we can do about it.
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: But if Goering should - concentrate on London by day - it's another matter.
- Air Vice Marshal Keith Park: If it means he leaves my airfields alone, I shan't complain. Even a few days would give me the chance to get back to full strength.
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: He'll have farther to come.
- Air Vice Marshal Keith Park: And to go back. We'll have more time to intercept.
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: What's more important, Park, his fighters have only fuel enough for ten minutes over London. His bombers will lose much of their protection. For the first time, they'll all come within the range of 12 Group. Perhaps now, at last, we shall see what Leigh-Mallory's Big Wings are made of. Turning on London - could be the Germans' biggest blunder.
- Air Vice Marshal Evill: [ACM Dowding is sitting at his desk reading reports. The phone buzzes. AVM Evill picks up the phone] Yes?
- [listens]
- Air Vice Marshal Evill: Yes, one moment
- [turns to ACM Dowding]
- Air Vice Marshal Evill: The Air Minister, sir. on the scrambler.
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: [picks up green scrambler phone] Yes?
- Minister: Ah, Dowding. Er. Look. Our people in Washington are having trouble with the American Press. It's about today's figures. German sources there are saying that our claims are wildly exaggerated.
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: [listens, but says nothing]
- Minister: Hello? Are you there Dowding?
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: I'm here Minister.
- Minister: Well I mean, can you verify the figures?
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: [clears throat] I'm not very interested in propaganda. If we're right, they'll give up. If we are wrong, they'll be in London in a week!.
- [pauses then hangs up]
- Minister: [on the phone] Dowding, look, our people in Washington are having trouble with the American press. It's about today's figures. German sources there are saying that our claims are wildly exaggerated. - - Hello? - Are you there Dowding?
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: I'm here, Minister.
- Minister: Well, I mean, can you verify the figures?
- Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding: I'm not very interested in propaganda. If we're right, they'll give up. If we're wrong, they'll be in London in a week.