The evacuation from Dunkirk on the French coast was hailed in Britain as an extraordinary achievement and the ‘little ships of Dunkirk’ swiftly entered the mythology of wartime brave deeds.
British soldiers wade out to a waiting destroyer off Dunkirk during the evacuation.
Troops evacuated from Dunkirk on a destroyer about to berth at Dover, 31 May 1940.
Troops evacuated from Dunkirk enjoying tea and other refreshments at Addison Road station in London, 31 May 1940.
Some of the 'little ships' used during the evacuation of Dunkirk being towed back along the River Thames past Tower Bridge, 9 June 1940.
German forces moved into Dunkirk hours after the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force. Here German officers inspect a memorial on the sea front at Dunkirk.
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Havoc Mark I (Intruder), BJ496, in flight off the Irish coast after conducting experimental night camouflage trials with the Royal Aircraft Establishment, flying from Aldergrove, County Antrim. BJ496 had briefly served in the intruder role with No. 23 Squadron RAF the previous February, and was subsequently modified as a Turbinlite aircraft, flying with Nos. 1422, 1451 and 1454 Flights, before crashing during a searchlight practice at Colerne on 23 October 1941.
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