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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To Prevent This - Buy War Savings Certificates Now
(posters) Made by: Brown, F Gregory (artist) 1918-06
whole: the title is arranged across the top and bottom, with the image central. All set against a black background. image: a scene from within a steelworks, showing brutal treatment meted out by occupying German troops on an enslaved civilian workforce....
Interest
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds, held within narrow black and white borders. The title is separate and placed across the top edge, in black. The main text is separate and located in the lower third, in blue and in black. Further...
A Mite for Right
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters, held within a circular inset. A smaller image is placed in the upper right. The title is separate and located in the upper quarter, in white cursive script. The text is partially integrated and...
The Man On the Bridge
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is integrated and positioned across the top edge, in red. The text is separate and placed in the lower left, in light blue, and across the bottom edge, in yellow, set against a dark blue background. image...
Plan Your Future - Save With a Plan
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945
whole: the six images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in green. The main text is partially integrated and placed with each image as a caption, in red held within white insets, and separate and located in...
Worth Fighting For - Worth Saving For!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1944
whole: the ten images occupy the majority, held within white insets. The title and text are separate and placed at the centre, in dark red, and along the bottom edge, in red and in black. Further text is integrated and placed beneath each image as a...
The Best Investment in the World
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919-01
whole: the title and subtitle are in orange, with the text in white. All arranged in banner form, against a blue background and held within a white frame. image: text only. text: THE BEST INVESTMENT IN THE WORLD 5¼% Compound Interest Free of Income Tax,...
Your Last Chance
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-12
whole: the title is positioned across the top half, in dark blue. Further text and subtitles are placed in the lower half. All arranged, in banner form, diagonally from top left to bottom right against a bright yellow background. image: text only. text:...
The Sound Business Man's Investment - National War Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919-03
whole: the title is placed across the top half, with the subtitle in the lower half, both in bright yellow and separated by the Chancellor's seal. Arranged in banner form against a blue-grey background within a white border. image: the seal of the...
The RAF are Doing a Fine Job - This Plant will Help Them to Finish it!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned mostly in the lower half, with a smaller image positioned in the upper quarter. The title is separate and positioned in the upper half, in black and in blue. All set against a white background. image: a photograph of a...