It's been 78 years since the Battle of Britain — here are 14 photos of the Nazi onslaught in the...

On this day in 1940, Axis Germany launched air attacks on Great Britain, the beginning of what came to be known as the Battle of Britain. The battle lasted until October, and resulted in the loss of 1,420 British lives and 2,662 German aircrews and pilots. The luftwaffe never fully recovered from the loss of so many experienced aircrews.