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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Tugman, Ralph Edward (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984
British clerk served aboard HMS Amethyst and HMS Arethusa in North Sea, 1913-1915; present during Battle of Dogger Bank, 1915; served aboard HMS Endymion in Mediterranean and off Gallipoli, 1915-1916; served aboard HMS Grafton in Mediterranean, 1916-1918
Watkins, Dennis (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2001-04
British seaman served aboard HMS London in GB coastal waters, 1943; served aboard HMS Retalick in English Channel, 1943-1945
Kester, Stephanie Carol (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2007-09-03
German Jewish schoolchild emigrated on Kindertransport from Germany to GB, 1939; refugee in Welford-on-Avon and Birmingham, GB, 1939-1945
Joseph, Inga Jane (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company)
Austrian Jewish civilian in Vienna, 1927-1939; emigrated to GB on Kindertransport, 1939; refugee in Falmouth and Oxford, GB, 1939-1945
Davis, John Stanley (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2005-07-26
British private served with Tientsin Municipal Emergency Corps in Tientsin, China, 1936-1937; private and officer served with London Scottish Regt in GB, 1937-1945; served with Bergedorg Displaced Persons Camp in Germany, 1945-1946
Stone, James Ravenhall (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2005-08-15
British stoker served aboard HMS Walpole in Atlantic, 1941-1943; served aboard HMS Undine in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean, off Normandy, Far East and Pacific, 1943-1946
Dobson, Ernest (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-01-10
British recruit trained at Borden Light Infantry Training Depot in GB, 1951; private served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, Germany and Korea, 1951-1953
Rothschild, Edith (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999
German Jewish schoolgirl living in Frankfurt, Germany, 1933- 1939; emigrated on Kindertransport to GB, 1939; civilian refugee in Cambridge and London, GB, 1939-1945
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Navy official photographer
The Commanding Officer and officers of the British corvette HMS GUILLEMOT listening-in to the radio in the wardroom of their ship whilst she is docked at Harwich.
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Navy official photographer
Ratings lined up outside stores to receive issue of soap and tobacco at the Naval Stores Department, Nore, Harwich, which supplies all sea-going ships with the stores and provisions that they need.