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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Dreyer, Christopher William Stuart (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-09-03
British officer commanded MTB 102, 3rd MTB Flotilla and MTB 30, 4th MTB Flotilla in GB coastal waters, English Channel and during Dunkirk evacuation, 1940; commanded 5th, 6th and 9th MTB Flotillas in GB coastal waters, 1942; commanded 24th MTB Flotilla...
Stewart, James Donald (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984-11-12
British officer served with Transport Company, Royal Marine Fortress Unit and Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation II in GB and Norway, 1940-1942; served as training officer with Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment in GB, 1942-1944; commanded Royal...
Empson, William Edward (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-05-26
British seaman served aboard HMS Ajax in Atlantic, 1939-1940
Hann, Stanley (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2001-01-25
British NCO served with Glider Pilot Regt in GB, Normandy and Arnhem, Netherlands, 1942-1944; POW in Germany, 1944-1945
Daunt, Ivan Decourcy (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-03-07
British private served with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in GB, France and Belgium, North Africa, India and Burma, 1939-1945
Harvey, William Herbert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-09-06
British private served with 1st Bn Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt in GB, 1937-1938; NCO served with 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in GB, France and Belgium, 1939-1940; served with 2nd Bn Reconnaissance Corps and Pioneer Corps in GB, 1941-1943; civilian...
McInnes, Ninian Winder 'Ian' (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-02-02
British evacuee in Ebbw Vale, Wales, 1940-1943; civilian in Dover, Kent, 1944; Bevin Boy at Chislet, Snowdown and Bestwood Collieries, GB, 1944-1947
Fisher, George Edward (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-06-24
British private served with 2nd Bn The Buffs in France and Belgium, 1939-1940
Chesson, Kenneth John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-06-17
British private served with 2nd Bn Royal Berkshire Regt in India and Burma, 1944-1945
Lapidus, Samuel Henry Alfred (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-01-05
British NCO served with 69th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, France and Belgium 1940-1942; officer served with 178th Assault Field Regt, Royal Artillery in India and Burma, 1942-1945