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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Stanway, John Stephen (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985
British NCO served with 1/5th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers in GB, Egypt and Gallipoli, 1910-1916
Eves, Jim (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-03-09
British private served with 4th Bn East Lancashire Regt in GB, France and Belgium, 1939-1942; served with 1st Bn East Lancashire Regt in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1945
Ervine Andrews, Harold Marcus (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1991-08-27
Irish officer served with East Lancashire Regt as RAF Liaison Officer in Waziristan, India 1937-1939; commanded B Coy, 1st Bn East Lancashire Regt at Dunkirk, France, 1940; awarded Victoria Cross, 6/1940; served as liaison officer with 16 Sqdn, RAF at...
The Officers' Mess, 5th Manchesters, Halluin
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1940
image: interior of a palatial-looking room with two chandeliers and ornate decoration. Two officers are sitting in the room in the foreground, with a soldier visible through the open door to the left and four other men visible in the background through...
HQ Cookhouse, 5th Manchesters, Halluin
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1940
image: interior of a barn-like building with three soldiers cutting up food at a long table in the foreground. There are three men background right behind a wooden pillar in the right foreground, upon which hangs a jacket. There is an open doorway to the...
The Captain Quartermaster, 5th Manchesters, near Seclin
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1940
image: an officer wearing a forage cap and smoking a pipe sits in a chair in the left foreground, whilst another man lies sleeping on the ground in the right foreground. There is a military truck in the middle ground with a man sitting on the back of it...
SPORT & LEISURE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
Men from Bolton Wanderers Football Club serving together with a battery of artillery (53rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, 42 Division, 11 Corps) at Beccles on the east coast of England. Photograph shows: the nine footballers in uniform pulling an...
SPORT & LEISURE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
Men from Bolton Wanderers Football Club serving together with a battery of artillery (53rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, 42 Division, 11 Corps) at Beccles on the east coast of England. Photograph shows: the nine footballers in their football kit...
PRISONERS OF WAR, GALLIPOLI, 1915
(photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt) 1915-06-04
Prisoners in a cage of Turkish wire at Sedd El Bahr, captured by 42nd (East Lancashire) Division during the 3rd Battle of Krithia. A tent is visible within the cage.
Where is Gallipoli?
(books) Made by: MALLINSON, HOWARD (author) 2005
Includes index