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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Pickard, Joseph (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British private served with 1/7th, 21st and 1/4th Bns Northumberland Fusiliers in GB, 1915-1916; served with 1/5th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers on Western Front, 1916-1918 Wounded and required early form of plastic surgery for disfigured face
Holmes, William G (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985
British private served with 12th Bn London Regt in GB and on Western Front, 1916-1918
Cole, George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British private served as signaller with 3rd Northumbrian Bde, Royal Field Artillery in GB, 1915; served with 252, 253 and 250 Bdes, Royal Artillery in GB and on Western Front 1915-1918; POW in France and Germany, 1918
Thompson, George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British private served with 20th and 5th Bns Durham Light Infantry on Western Front, 1917-1918; POW in Germany, 1918-1919
Griffin, Alfred (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British NCO served with 9th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps on Western Front, 1917-1918; served as despatch rider with RAF in India, 1919-1923
Garlick, Robert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British private served with 7th Bn Leicestershire Regt and 1/5th Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regt on Western Front, 1918-1919
Johnson, Reginald Hilary Joseph (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985
British private served with 1/4th Bn Norfolk Regt in GB and at Gallipoli, 1914-1915; served with 6th Bn Tank Corps on Western Front, 1917-1918
Kirk, William Richard (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British NCO served as butcher with Army Service Corps attached to 11th Divisional Train in GB, Gallipoli, Egypt and on Western Front, 1914-1919
Keele, Tommy (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1991
British NCO served with 11th Bn Middlesex Regt in GB and Western Front, 1914-1916; attached to 'Ace of Spades' Concert Party, 12 Div on Western Front, 1916-1918; served with Local Defence Volunteers and 6th Bn East Kent Regt in GB, 1939-1944; served with...
Grunwell, George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British private served with 16th Bn, West Yorkshire Regt in GB, Egypt and Western Front, 1914-1918