London on the night of November 14, 1940 had suffered its most severe test of the war, and Americans Barbara Markey and Gail Riordan were among the fortunate survivors.
To Londoners, the only good thing that came out of what became known as "the night of fire" was that shortly after, America's ambassador to England, Joe Kennedy, returned to Boston. The little-loved diplomat who had said he didn't think the British "could take a beating" and that "democracy in Britain is finished" was replaced by John G. Winant. Upon his arrival the new ambassador told the people of Britain, "There is no place on earth I would rather be."
Realizing the British people could not be bombed into submission, Germany gradually gave up hope of invading England and "the Battle of Britain" ended May 10, 1941. Bombs stopped raining down from the skies over England, although rocket strikes were yet to come, doing almost as much damage as the bombs had.
Winston Churchill called every Briton a hero after the German planes returned to their home bases. But he singled out the Royal Air Force, which though outnumbered steadfastly refused to allow Germany supremacy over them and gallantly defended their island home.
Barbara and her fellow American volunteer ferrying pilots listened on the radio as the Prime Minister told the people of England and the rest of the free world, "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few."
RAF pilots joked that he was referring to their mess hall bar bills.