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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Corpse: Series of sketches for work in IWM
(art) Made by: Richards, Albert
image: A soldier's body lying on the ground, surrounded by debris. He is lying on his back with eyes open.
Crashed Horsa Glider: Series of sketches for work in IWM
(art) Made by: Richards, Albert
image: A crashed Horsa glider, viewed from the side with the tail portion separate and lying on the ground.
Quarry: Series of sketches for work in IWM
(art) Made by: Richards, Albert 1944
image: A group of four men work at the top of a quarry filled with red-toned rocks. Further down the hill two more men dig with shovels next to a large sorting machine. There are also two men working under the machine. To the right there are green hills...
Crashed Horsa Glider: Series of sketches for work in IWM
(art) Made by: Richards, Albert 1944
image: A Horsa glider crashed in the countryside, with damage to the fuselage just behind the wing.
Horsa Glider: Series of sketches for work in IWM
(art) Made by: Richards, Albert
image: A damaged and grounded Horsa glider lies in the French landscape.
Caen: Series of sketches for work in IWM
(art) Made by: Richards, Albert
image: A soldier stands amongst the rubble with his back to the artist looking at some ruined buildings. There is an armoured vehicle on the right side of the image.
Quarry: Series of sketches for work in IWM
(art) Made by: Richards, Albert
image: A view of red earth in mounds, surrounded by piles of rocks. A man is sitting on one of the mounds looking over to the right towards some machinery.
Armoured Vehicle: Series of sketches for work in IWM
(art) Made by: Richards, Albert
image: An armoured Universal Bren Gun carrier under a red sky.
Factory: Series of sketches for work in IWM
(art) Made by: Richards, Albert
image: A sketch of a factory with chimneys and a tank and a truck in the foreground.
A Rainy Day, Brussels : November 1944
(art) Made by: Schmolle, Stella L M 1944-11-01
image: a view of civilians crowding to get on to a yellow tram in the rain with passers by in the foreground: a woman and a child pushing a toy pram, a man on a bike and three soldiers.