Ted Barris To Lead Battle of Britain / Second World War Aviation Tour in September 2025

Story and photos by John Bertram,
Vice President,
CAHS Toronto Chapter
July 2025

This September marks the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the iconic aerial struggle that thwarted Nazi Germany’s attempt to clear the skies of the Royal Air Force (RAF), and pave the way for Hitler’s planned invasion of England from across the Channel in occupied France. That this plan failed is arguably one of the most consequential events in the entire history of the war. Had this plan succeeded so early in the conflict, the subsequent post-war history of the what we now know as the entire "Free World” would almost certainly have been very different, and not for the better.

Battle of Britain author Ted Barris.

Author Ted Barris will be leading a Battle of Britain/Second World War Aviation tour this fall through tour organizer Merit Travel (departing 31 August and returning 10 September). This detailed, day-by-day itinerary describes how the expedition covers more than just the Fall 1940 time frame, now remembered as the Battle of Britain. The tour also includes sites relating to the Dunkirk evacuation the previous Spring; the famous Dambusters Raid in May 1943; and the joint day/night operations of the British Bomber Command and the United States 8th Air Force based in England (subject of the recent “Masters of the Air” miniseries). Expect the special focus on little known, personal Canadian stories that Ted brings to his many acclaimed books and live presentations.

Ted Barris during May 2024 D-Day 80th Anniversary tour showing the remains of the temporary “Mulberry” harbours at the British-assigned Sword Beach near Arromanches (easternmost of the five Normandy Landing areas). The lower right image shows Ted and John Bertram at the original Pegasus Bridge, one of the early strategic targets of the British paratroopers who preceded the Allied beach landings.

Other tour highlights will be attendance at a special Battle of Britain memorial air show at the Duxford air base, along with visits to the code-breaking barracks at Bletchley Park and to the final resting place of Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, the American fighter pilot serving in the RCAF, who, while training in England in a British-built Spitfire, wrote the immortal poem High Flight (“I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth…”), which quickly became the most inspiring and highly regarded ode to the spirit of flight in the English language.

I am really excited to go on this tour and highly recommend that you consider coming along. I recently had the privilege of attending Ted Barris' D-Day 80th Anniversary tour in May 2024, so I know we won't be disappointed! Contact Merit Travel today!

Audrey deVoest,
519.472.2700 x6905 (Toll Free: 866.341.1777 x6905)

Battle of Britain / Second World War Aviation Tour Maps

John Bertram with Ted Barris.