In this moving episode of Walking the Ground: Battle of Britain, James Holland and Al Murray uncover the stark realities faced by RAF and Luftwaffe pilots who were shot down, captured, or lost at sea during the summer of 1940. Behind the triumph and heroism of the air battle lay a grim truth — every victory carried a cost in lives, and survival was never guaranteed once an aircraft went down.

From the astonishing story of Franz von Werra, the only Axis pilot to escape from British captivity and return to Germany, to the desperate ditchings in the English Channel, James and Al reveal what happened after the dogfights ended. They explore the terrifying experience of “Kanalkrank” — Channel sickness — the fear that gripped airmen who knew that falling into the cold water meant near-certain death.

Filmed on location at RAF Northolt, Tangmere, Duxford, and the Portsmouth Historic Quarter, this episode sheds light on Britain’s pioneering rescue operations, including T. E. Lawrence’s high-speed rescue boats, which raced to save stranded airmen. Through memorials, archives, and firsthand accounts, James and Al honour both sides of the conflict — the aircrews who perished in the Channel and those captured behind enemy lines — revealing the human cost that defined the Battle of Britain and the courage of those who never returned.

With Special Thanks to:
Imperial War Museums
RAF Northolt
IWM Duxford
Portsmouth Historic Quarter