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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ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Moss W
Armourers load 3-inch rocket-projectiles onto a Hawker Typoon Mark IB of No. 124 Wing at B156/Luneberg, Germany.
ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Clark N S (Flt Lt)
A Supermarine Spitfire PR Mark XI of No. 39 (PR) Wing taxying at B78/Eindhoven, Holland, seen through a roll of square mesh type tracking. To the right of the aircraft lies the wreckage of another Spitfire PR Mark XI, destroyed during the Luftwaffe...
ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Air Force official photographer
A Hawker Typhoon Mark IB of No. 143 Wing taxies past dispersed Supermarine Spitfire Mark IXs along the ice-covered runway at B78/Eindhoven, Holland, for an early-morning sortie. Note the ground crewman sitting on the Typhoon's wing to guide the pilot,...
ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Goodchild A (F/O)
Hawker Typhoon Mark IBs of No. 121 Wing assembled at B2/Bazenville, Normandy, for close-support operations. Second from the right, fitted with a four-bladed propeller, is MN666 'C-G', the personal aircraft of Wing Commander C L Green, the wing leader.
ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Goodchild A (F/O)
Hawker Typhoon pilots of Nos. 121 and 124 Wings discuss operations at B2/Bazenville, Normandy, on the evening of 14 June 1944. In the foreground, standing on the left, are five pilots of No. 175 Squadron RAF, including the Commanding Officer, Squadron...
ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Goodchild A (F/O)
Hawker Typhoon pilots of No. 121 Wing, back from their operational sorties are interrogated at their open air headquarters in a Normandy orchard adjoining the advanced landing ground at B2/Bazenville. Bending over the table at right is Squadron Leader M...
ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Cave (Sgt)
Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief 2nd Tactical Air Force (left), and Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst Air Officer Commanding No. 83 Group (centre), confer with Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, Deputy Supreme Commander...
ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Air Force official photographer
Air Vice-Marshal J H Broadhurst, the Air Officer Commanding No 83 Group (left) and Chief of the Air Staff, Marshal of the RAF Sir Charles Portal, sitting in the cockpit of Broadhurst's Fiesler Storch at B11/Longues, Normandy, during a visit by the...
ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Clark N S (F/O)
Leading Aircraftman Ernie Hulstone of the RAF Regiment washes his feet in a biscuit tin while other members of his squadron man a 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun at B5/Le Fresne Camilly, Normandy.
ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Clark N S (Fg Off)
An armourer attaching the electrical plugs which fire the 3-inch rocket projectiles on the rocket-rails of a Hawker Typhoon Mark IB of No. 121 Wing at B5/Le Fresne Camilly, Normandy.