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
part of "HUGHES MIKE (RIFLEMAN)" (photographs) Made by: Hughes, Michael (Rifleman)
British soldiers question local men during a night patrol in the vicinity of Surobi, Kabul Province.
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, 2006
part of "HUGHES MIKE (RIFLEMAN)" (photographs) Made by: Hughes, Michael (Rifleman)
No description available
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, 2006
part of "HUGHES MIKE (RIFLEMAN)" (photographs) Made by: Hughes, Michael (Rifleman)
A Territorial Army soldier of the Royal Rifle Volunteers training on the Afghan National Army firing range near Kabul, Afghanistan. During their six month deployment on Force Protection duties in Afghanistan, the Detachment regularly used the ranges for...
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, 2006
part of "HUGHES MIKE (RIFLEMAN)" (photographs) Made by: Hughes, Michael (Rifleman)
No description available
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, 2006
part of "HUGHES MIKE (RIFLEMAN)" (photographs) Made by: Hughes, Michael (Rifleman)
No description available
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, 2006
part of "HUGHES MIKE (RIFLEMAN)" (photographs) Made by: Hughes, Michael (Rifleman)
A young Afghan boy fraternises with a British soldier on patrol.
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, 2006
part of "HUGHES MIKE (RIFLEMAN)" (photographs) Made by: Hughes, Michael (Rifleman)
A scorpion, one of the more natural hazards of life for British troops in Afghanistan.
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, 2006
part of "HUGHES MIKE (RIFLEMAN)" (photographs) Made by: Hughes, Michael (Rifleman)
No description available
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, 2006
part of "HUGHES MIKE (RIFLEMAN)" (photographs) Made by: Hughes, Michael (Rifleman)
A British soldier wearing a helmet mounted image intensifier and a face mask at ISAF Headquarters, Kabul.
OPERATION HERRICK: BRITISH FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, 2006
part of "HUGHES MIKE (RIFLEMAN)" (photographs) Made by: Hughes, Michael (Rifleman)
No description available