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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MILITARY MOTORCYCLES OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR
(photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt) 1915
DOUGLAS 348 cc twin cylinder machines. Despatch riders of the Royal Engineers on a beach at Gallipoli.
CAMOUFLAGE DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR: CLOTHING
(photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt)
A Turkish sniper photographed immediately after capture, and while he was being brought under guard. He was ingeniously screened by a Jack-in-the-Green arrangement of foliage attached to his clothing.
BRITISH SHIPS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR
(photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt) 1915
Forward guns of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, photographed in the Dardanelles at the start of the Gallipoli campaign.
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION
(photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt)
CHARLEMAGNE (1895) at anchor off Mudros, 1915.
FIRST WORLD WAR VICTORIA CROSS HOLDERS' PORTRAITS (NAVAL)
(photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt) 1915
Portrait of Edward Courtney Boyle, awarded the Victoria Cross: HM Submarine E14, Dardanelles, 27 April 1915. Photograph taken on board HM Submarine E14 at sea.
PHOTOGRAPHY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt) 1918
British Intelligence Officer uses a stereoscopic viewer to interpret aerial reconnaissance photographs on the Italian Front. Many reconnaissance photographs were taken in steroscopic form (using a camera with two lenses the same distance apart as the...
THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND 31 MAY 1916
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt)
Personalities: Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty, commander of the Battle Cruiser Fleet.
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION
(photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt)
MAURETANIA as hospital ship c. 1915.
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION
(photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt)
A distant view of the Mauretania and the Aquitania, two Cunard liners used to transport troops, and wounded, arriving at Mudros. 1915.
CAMOUFLAGE DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt)
British Field Gun in a camouflaged position on the Italian Front.