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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THE PRIME MINISTER, WINSTON CHURCHILL VISITS NORMANDY, 12 JUNE 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
Left to right: The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke; Mr Winston Churchill; and the Commander of the 21st Army Group, General Sir Bernard Montgomery, at Montgomery's mobile headquarters in Normandy.
WINSTON CHURCHILL IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1940-10-23
Winston Churchill and General Władysław Sikorski, the Prime Minister of the Polish Government-in-Exile and C-in-C of the Polish Armed Forces (left), inspecting troops of the 1st Rifle Brigade (1st Polish Corps) at Tentsmuir. General Tadeusz Klimecki, the...
WINSTON CHURCHILL IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1940-10-23
Winston Churchill inspecting troops of the 1st Rifle Brigade (1st Polish Corps) with General Władysław Sikorski at Tentsmuir in Scotland. General Gustaw Paszkiewicz, the CO of the Brigade, is behind General Sikorski.
WINSTON CHURCHILL AS PRIME MINISTER 1940-1945
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1941-02-14
The Prime Minister witnessed a tank demonstration in which he was shown the capabilities of various armoured fighting vehicles over rough country near Frensham, Surrey. With him were General Władysław Sikorski, the Prime Minister of the Polish Government...
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
Churchill tanks on parade on the South Downs ready for an inspection by the Prime Minister, 6 April 1942. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Oliver Lyttleton, Minister of State for War Production, and General Sir Bernard Paget, C-in-C Home Forces.
THE LOSS OF HMS PRINCE OF WALES AND REPULSE 10 DECEMBER 1941
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
Personalities: Captain J C Leach, commanding officer of HMS PRINCE OF WALES and Admiral Phillips' Flag Captain. The PRINCE OF WALES was the battleship which conveyed the Prime Minister across the Atlantic for his historic meeting with President Roosevelt...
WINSTON CHURCHILL DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
The Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, shakes the hand of Mr Thompson of Sandyhills (seated in a wheelchair) during his tour of the Glasgow area.
WINSTON CHURCHILL VISITING THE HOME FLEET DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
The Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, aboard one of the Royal Navy warships that had just returned from Russia after escorting a convoy. With him is Rear Admiral R Burnett, who commanded the escorting ships. Note the Royal Navy cameraman immediately...
WINSTON CHURCHILL DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
The Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, inspecting anti-flying bomb defences, waiting at a battery for a flying bomb to arrive. Wearing a steel helmet and mackintosh, he sits on chair to the rear of a battery 3.7 inch anti-aircraft guns located in open...
WINSTON CHURCHILL DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1944-03-31
Winston Churchill inspects a Cromwell Mk IV tank of No. 2 Squadron, 2nd (Armoured Reconnaissance) Battalion, Welsh Guards, at Pickering in Yorkshire, 31 March 1944. The tank is named 'Blenheim'. The tank was the mount of Major John Ogilvie Spencer,...