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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OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN 2006 - 2007
part of "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Fletcher Mike (Cpl) British Army official photographer
Afghan children watch a British Army patrol in Lashkar Gah, Helmand, Afghanistan.
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN 2006 - 2007
part of "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Fletcher Mike (Cpl) British Army official photographer
Operations in Nowzad, Helmand, Afghanistan, 30 - 31 July 2006. Soldiers of 3 Parachute Regiment and D Squadron, Household Cavalry wait to board a Chinook helicopter after completing operations to secure the town of Nowzad after fierce fighting against...
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN 2006 - 2007
part of "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Fletcher Mike (Cpl) British Army official photographer
Operations in Nowzad, Helmand, Afghanistan, 30 - 31 July 2006. Soldiers of 3 Parachute Regiment and D Squadron, Household Cavalry complete operations to secure the town of Nowzad after fierce fighting against Taliban forces. British forces had been...
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN 2006 - 2007
part of "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Fletcher Mike (Cpl) British Army official photographer
British soldiers celebrate as the England football team scores a goal against Paraguay in their first match of the 2006 World Cup competition. The match was broadcast via satellite television to the British military base at Lashkar Gah, Helmand,...
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN 2006 - 2007
part of "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Fletcher Mike (Cpl) British Army official photographer
A meeting (or Shura) between the Commander of the Helmand Task Force, Colonel Charles Knaggs, Mr Nick Kay (Foreign and Commonwealth Office representative with the Provincial Reconstruction Team), and village elders and tribal chiefs at the police station...
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN 2006 - 2007
part of "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Fletcher Mike (Cpl) British Army official photographer
A meeting (or Shura) between the Commander of the Helmand Task Force, Colonel Charles Knaggs, Mr Nick Kay (Foreign and Commonwealth Office representative with the Provincial Reconstruction Team), and village elders and tribal chiefs at the police station...
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN 2006 - 2007
part of "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Fletcher Mike (Cpl) British Army official photographer
A meeting (or Shura) between the Commander of the Helmand Task Force, Colonel Charles Knaggs, Mr Nick Kay (Foreign and Commonwealth Office representative with the Provincial Reconstruction Team), and village elders and tribal chiefs at the police station...
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN 2006 - 2007
part of "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Fletcher Mike (Cpl) British Army official photographer
A local Afghan civilian, who was injured in an incident outside the British compound at Lashkar Gah, returns to the medical facility at the base to have his wound re-dressed and checked by a doctor of 16 CS Medical Regiment, 16 Air Assault Brigade. The...