The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940
The battle begins, summer 1940

After defeating France in June 1940, Hitler assumed Britain would sue for peace but ordered his armed forces to prepare for invasion. Hermann Goering assured him that a sustained air assault would destroy the RAF, winning the air superiority needed.
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

July 1940 saw German planes target shipping in the Channel, drawing the RAF into combat, before radar stations, communications centres and airfields faced round-the-clock bombing in August. The battle reached a climax with attacks on London in September.
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Joan 'Elizabeth' Mortimer, Elspeth Henderson and Helen Turner of the WAAF. All three received the Military Medal for courageous conduct during attacks on Biggin Hill airfield. Biggin Hill suffered a total of ten major attacks between 30 Aug and 5 Sept.
Non-British personnel in the RAF
Non-British personnel in the RAF

A group of pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF return from a sortie. The first Polish squadrons were formed in the summer of 1940. Pilots came from several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand and the USA.
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

RAF Duxford was a Sector Station in 12 Group, responsible for defending the Midlands and East Anglia. As the fighting intensified, Duxford's squadrons were called on to support 11 Group's defence of London and the south-east.
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Despite incessant attacks, the RAF's defences held. The Luftwaffe could not continue, and in the autumn switched to 'nuisance' raids and night operations. The failure to defeat the RAF convinced Hitler to postpone his invasion plans indefinitely.

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Mrs Chalmers Watson, CBE, Director of QMAAC

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<a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/37259?cat=art" target="_blank"><img alt="Mrs Chalmers Watson, CBE, Director of QMAAC" class="" src="http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib/268/media-268726/standard.jpg?action=e&cat=art" /></a> <span>Mrs Chalmers Watson, CBE, Director of QMAAC<a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright" target="_blank">© IWM (Art.IWM ART 4172)</a></span>

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Catalogue number

Art.IWM ART 4172

Production date

1921

Subject period

Materials

medium: oil
support: canvas

Dimensions

Support: Height 762 mm
Support: Width 723 mm

Alternative Names

object category: painting

Creator

Walton, Edward Arthur & Walton, Cecile

Category

art

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This item is available to share and reuse under the terms of the IWM Non Commercial Licence.

Object description

image: A half length portrait of Chalmers Watson, wearing the uniform of Queen Mary's Auxiliary Army Corps. She is seated and rests the elbow of her left arm on a desk.

The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940

A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Non-British personnel in the RAF

Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Main menu

Mrs Chalmers Watson, CBE, Director of QMAAC

IWM Non Commercial Licence

Object description

Inscription

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The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940

A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Non-British personnel in the RAF

Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Main menu

Mrs Chalmers Watson, CBE, Director of QMAAC

IWM Non Commercial Licence

Object description

Inscription

Associated people and organisations

Associated places

Associated events

Associated themes

Associated keywords

Comments (0)

Add a comment

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