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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Bracey, Tom (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British NCO serves as machine gunner with 9th Bn Royal Fusiliers in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1918
Hayward, Harold Joseph (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company)
British private served with 12th Bn Gloucestershire Regt in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1916; served as officer with 3rd Bn Welsh Regt in GB, 1917-1918; served with 15th Bn Welch Regt on Western Front, 1918
Tubbs, Cecil Burnell (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company)
British private served with 8th Bn King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry in Salonika, Greece, 1915-1916
Glasspool, Arthur 'Fred (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-09-12
British NCO served with 9th Royal Tank Regt in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945
Lane, Alan Clifford (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-05-03
British Bevin Boy at Oakdale, Lady Windsor and Pensford Collieries in GB, 1943-1947
May, Francis John Cretchley (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1998-01-21
British NCO served as bomb aimer with 295 Sqdn, 38 Group (Special Duties) RAF in GB, 1943-1945
Burge, Kathleen (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-10-31
British civilian evacuated from Bristol to Glastonbury, Somerset, 1939-1945
Burge, Reginald (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-10-31
British private served with 4th Bn Devonshire Regt in GB and Gibraltar, 1940-1943; served as driver with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt in GB and Normandy, 1943-6/1944
Smith, Guy Robin (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2005
British NCO served with E Bty, 1st Regt, RHA, in GB, Germany, Northern Ireland and Cyprus, 1976-1984; served with 307 (OP) Bty, (South Notts Hussars), RA in GB, 1985-1991; served attached to D Bty, 3rd Regt, RHA in GB and Belize, 1991; served with 307...
Langfield, Francis Joseph (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2001-02-08
British signaller served with Royal Signals in GB, 1941-1942; NCO served with 106 and 105 Special Wireless Section, Royal Signals in Middle East, North Africa and Italy, 1944-1945