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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Collections search

Standing Soldier - study for 'The Kensingtons at Laventie'
(art) Made by: Kennington, Eric Henri (RA) 1915
image: a full length portrait of a British infantryman in full kit, facing away from the viewer.
The Kensingtons at Laventie
(art) Made by: Kennington, Eric Henri (RA) 1915
image: A platoon of British soldiers standing in a village street. There is an exterior whitewashed wall in the background, snow on the ground, debris scattered around to the right, and above, a calvary cross in the top corner of the composition. The...
belt, Featherweight Boxing Challenge
(souvenirs and ephemera)
First World War period British boxing trophy (the 8th Division Challenge Belt) from France 1917-1918, associated with the wartime service careers of Private Lyons and Driver Thomas. Private Lyons of the 1st Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (...
The 8th Division in France and Flanders
(books) Made by: COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION (author) [ca. 1921]
Typescript
Private Papers of Lieutenant W V C Lake
(private papers) Made by: Lake, W V Cecil 1977
Ts copy of his memoirs (5pp, written 1977) relating to his service with the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (8th Division) in France and Belgium from late 1915 - late 1916, including well written descriptions of his experiences as the Battalion's Lewis...
Lt.Col. J. R. Webster, DSO, MC
(art) Made by: Cooke, I 1919
image: A half-length portrait of a young officer in uniform.
Private Papers of J W Riddell
(private papers) Made by: Riddell, J W
Excellent photocopied ms account (ca 150pp) of his service as an NCO with the Rifle Brigade, 1907 - 1933, providing details of his poor Army background, pre-war service in the Middle East and India, First World War service from 1915 with the 4th...
Private Papers of Lieutenant Colonel V H Sykes
(private papers) Made by: Sykes, V H 1915
Ms transcription (25pp) of a brief and uninformative diary covering his service as a Sergeant with the 1/7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (23rd Brigade, 8th Division), January - November 1915, initially in Gibraltar but then from March in France near...
Private Papers of Brigadier G H P Whitfeld MC
(private papers) Made by: Whitfield, Gerald Herbert Penn
Pages of an original ms diary (29pp) with brief entries for February - September 1916, together with a ts transcription with expanded entries (77pp written between 1918 and 1919) covering the period March 1916 - February 1918, and his service as an...
Private Papers of Miss N Noble
(private papers) Made by: Noble, N
Microfilm copy of 39 ms letters from 4 correspondents comprising: 5 good letters from Lieutenant Colonel W H Diggle, December 1914 - January 1916, whilst serving as a Staff Officer first at HQ 8th Division, then HQ VIII Corps in Gallipoli and finally HQ...