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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Holmes, William G (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985
British private served with 12th Bn London Regt in GB and on Western Front, 1916-1918
Holbrook, William George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British private served with 4th Bn Royal Fusiliers in GB, on Western Front and in Germany, 1909-1919
Winchester Post, Laventie, August 1916
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1916-08
image: a view of a post in a wood, with a tree lined road running from the right foreground to the centre background.
Near Winchester Post, August 1916
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1916-08
image: a sketch view across French countryside, with some trees in the distance and fluffy clouds in the sky above.
Near Laventie, September 2 1916
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1916-09-02
image: a sketch of wild flowers growing amongst long grass in the foreground, with open countryside beyond and a few trees on the horizon.
Graves at Winchester Post, Laventie, October 1916
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1916-10
image: a path leads between trees to a clearing with several graves clustered together, marked with wooden crosses.
Standing Soldier - study for 'The Kensingtons at Laventie'
(art) Made by: Kennington, Eric Henri (RA) 1915
image: a full length portrait of a British infantryman in full kit, facing away from the viewer.
The Kensingtons at Laventie
(art) Made by: Kennington, Eric Henri (RA) 1915
image: A platoon of British soldiers standing in a village street. There is an exterior whitewashed wall in the background, snow on the ground, debris scattered around to the right, and above, a calvary cross in the top corner of the composition. The...
WEDDERBURN-MAXWELL, JOHN (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: WEDDERBURN-MAXWELL, JOHN (interviewee/speaker) 1985
British officer served with 45th, 1st and 36th Batteries Royal Field Artillery in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1918; served with 2A Bty, Honourable Artillery Company in Germany, 1918-1919
THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT 1914 - 1918
part of "SCOTS GUARDS COLLECTION" (photographs) 1915-12
Troops revetting front line trenches at Laventie to prevent collapse, December 1915.