With the surrender of France on 22nd of June l 940, Britain and her Commonwealth stood alone against the might of the German armed forces. In that dark summer of 1940, the threat of invasion hung heavily over Britain and children were once more evacuated to the countryside. The army was still recovering from its defeat in France and could offer no real defence against invasion. Britain had a strategy to meet the German threat, which was due to one man, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding. Against enormous internal pressure, Dowding had resisted committing the majority of his Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons to the battle on the Continent, knowing that the major battle was yet to come – the Battle for Britain itself. Having preserved his squadrons, Dowding could now concentrate on his four-point master plan of defence: a fighter strike force of Spitfires and Hurricanes, a superbly flexible radar fighter direction system, a defence shield of anti-aircraft cover and a brilliantly simple defence strategy, disrupting the bomber attacks before they could reach their targets, but ensuring enough air cover for the bases of the squadrons involved in the battle. This documentary, using newly discovered footage, gives full justice to the exceptional Commander, Hugh Dowding, to Keith Park, his second-in-command, and to all the men and women who, during that dark summer of 1940. Inflicted the first defeat on German arms.