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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Victory in the West
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945
whole: the 12 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in white, held within an orange inset. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, in white held within orange insets, in orange and...
Is Your Speech a Rope?
(posters) Made by: Speirs (artist) 1943-06
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters. The title is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in blue and in red outlined black. All set against a white background. image: a portrait-length depiction of a man holding a telephone receiver...
12th African Division 1940-1941
(posters) Made by: Preston, J (artist) 1941-11
whole: the image occupies the whole, held within a decorative border of laurel leaves. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper centre and lower centre, in blue outlined black, held within scroll designs. The text is integrated and located...
Are You Responsible for This...?
(posters) Made by: Henry, Ernest (artist) 1945-03
whole: the main image occupies the majority, with a smaller image positioned in the lower centre. The title is integrated and placed in the upper half, in red outlined white and in black. The text is integrated and located in the lower centre, in black....
They Deserve Your Silence!
(posters) Made by: Henry, Ernest (artist) 1945-03
whole: the main image occupies the majority, with a smaller image positioned in the lower right. The title is integrated and placed in the upper three-quarters, in yellow outlined black. The text is integrated and located in the lower right, in black....
Your Silence is Golden!
(posters) Made by: Henry, Ernest (artist) 1945-03
whole: the main image occupies the majority, with a smaller image positioned in the lower left. The title is integrated and placed in the upper quarter, in brown and in white outlined brown. The text is integrated and located in the lower left, in black...
Talking - But Not to the Enemy!
(posters) Made by: Henry, Ernest (artist) 1945-03
whole: the main image occupies the majority, with a smaller image positioned in the lower right. The title is integrated and placed in the upper right, in pink. The subtitle is integrated and located in the lower half, in white. The text is integrated...
Army Exhibition
(posters) Made by: Wood, Harold (artist) 1944-07
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned in the lower third, in white. The text is integrated and placed in the lower third, in red. image: a depiction of an African soldier silhouetted against a pink sky. He stands...
Be Security Minded
(posters) Made by: Beech (artist) 1945
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper left, in black. All set against a white background and held within a blue border. image: a depiction of a small dog walking along a pavement, its entire torso...
Don't be an Ass - Do be Security Minded
(posters) Made by: Beech (artist) 1945
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within a blue border. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper centre, in red. The text is integrated and placed in the lower right, in black. All set against a white background and held within a...