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

A Knitting Party
(art) Made by: Dunbar, Evelyn Mary 1940
image: A large room with a party of women sitting in chairs and knitting
The Queue at the Fish-shop
(art) Made by: Dunbar, Evelyn Mary 1944
image: A long line of women queue outside the shop of H. Hill and Son, fishmongers, poulterers. The slabs are being washed down in anticipation of a fresh delivery.
Hospital Train
(art) Made by: Dunbar, Evelyn Mary 1942
image: View of the interior of a hospital train with bunks on either side of a central passageway. An orderly and two nurses are in attendance
An Army Tailor and an ATS Tailoress
(art) Made by: Dunbar, Evelyn Mary 1943
image: a view looking down onto a work table covered in fabric and thread, dimly lit from above. The ATS tailoress sits cross-legged at work on the table, while the tailor sits further away on the right. Two other ATS workers sit in the foreground and a...
Putting on Anti-gas Protective Clothing
(art) Made by: Dunbar, Evelyn Mary 1940
image: Composite image of a woman being assisted into an anti-gas suit by another woman
Pea Picking at Ripper's Cross Farm c.1945
(art) Made by: Dunbar, Evelyn Mary 1945
image: A group of workers picking peas in a field in the English countryside. There are trees in the distance and a cloudy blue sky above.
Land Army Girls going to Bed
(art) Made by: Dunbar, Evelyn Mary 1943
image: Interior of a billet with bunk beds and Women's Land Army girls preparing for bed.
Milking Practice with Artificial Udders
(art) Made by: Dunbar, Evelyn Mary 1940
image: Three Land Army girls practising with artificial rubber 'udders', learning the milking technique.
A Canning Demonstration
(art) Made by: Dunbar, Evelyn Mary 1940
image: interior of a village hall with two women demonstrating the preservation of fruit and vegetables, watched by an audience of women
St Thomas's Hospital In Evacuation Quarters
(art) Made by: Dunbar, Evelyn Mary 1942
image: Composite image of scenes of daily life in a hospital.