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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OPERATION AGILA: THE COMMONWEALTH MONITORING FORCE IN RHODESIA 1979 - 1980
part of "UNITED KINGDOM LAND FORCES" (photographs) Made by: British Army official photographer
A British soldier uses a portable radio at one of the sixteen Assembly Area.
OPERATION AGILA: THE COMMONWEALTH MONITORING FORCE IN RHODESIA 1979 - 1980
part of "UNITED KINGDOM LAND FORCES" (photographs) Made by: British Army official photographer
Former guerillas of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe National Liberation Army (ZANLA) retrain for service with the Zimbabwe Army at Rathgar.
OPERATION AGILA: THE COMMONWEALTH MONITORING FORCE IN RHODESIA 1979 - 1980
part of "UNITED KINGDOM LAND FORCES" (photographs) Made by: British Army official photographer
During a visit to one of the assembly areas set up at the start of the peace process, Major General John Acland, Commander of the Monitoring Force (CMF), inspects an anti-aircraft gun supplied to the guerilla fighters by the Soviet Union. During the...
OPERATION AGILA: THE COMMONWEALTH MONITORING FORCE IN RHODESIA 1979 - 1980
part of "UNITED KINGDOM LAND FORCES" (photographs) Made by: British Army official photographer
Joshua Nkomo, leader of the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), visits his forces and views the weapons they have presented at Assembly Place Romeo in central Rhodesia before the election. He is accompanied by officers of the Commonwealth...
OPERATION AGILA: THE COMMONWEALTH MONITORING FORCE IN RHODESIA 1979 - 1980
part of "UNITED KINGDOM LAND FORCES" (photographs) Made by: British Army official photographer
RAF Puma helicopters are unloaded from a Lockheed C5A Galaxy transport aircraft of Military Aircraft Command at Salisbury International Airport at the start of Operation AGILA.
OPERATION AGILA: THE COMMONWEALTH MONITORING FORCE IN RHODESIA 1979 - 1980
part of "UNITED KINGDOM LAND FORCES" (photographs) Made by: British Army official photographer
Major General John Acland, Commander of the Monitoring Force (CMF), with guerilla fighters at an Assembly Area during the seven day ceasefire at the start of the peace process. During the ceasefire, 22,000 communist guerrilla fighters of Robert Mugabe's...
OPERATION AGILA: THE COMMONWEALTH MONITORING FORCE IN RHODESIA 1979 - 1980
part of "UNITED KINGDOM LAND FORCES" (photographs) Made by: British Army official photographer
A British Army officer examines and registers the weapons of a Patriotic Front guerilla at an Assembly Area during the seven day ceasefire at the start of the peace process. During the ceasefire, 22,000 communist guerrilla fighters of Robert Mugabe's...
OPERATION AGILA: THE COMMONWEALTH MONITORING FORCE IN RHODESIA 1979 - 1980
part of "UNITED KINGDOM LAND FORCES" (photographs) Made by: British Army official photographer
The Union Jack flag flies over Assembly Area Alpha in north east Rhodesia during the seven day ceasefire at the start of the peace process. During the ceasefire, 22,000 communist guerrilla fighters of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe National Liberation Army (...
OPERATION AGILA: THE COMMONWEALTH MONITORING FORCE IN RHODESIA 1979 - 1980
part of "UNITED KINGDOM LAND FORCES" (photographs) Made by: British Army official photographer
Two guerillas display their Kalashnikov AK 47 weapons at Assembly Area Foxtrot, near the Rhodesian border with Mozambique, during the seven day ceasefire at the start of the peace process. During the ceasefire, 22,000 communist guerrilla fighters of...
OPERATION AGILA: THE COMMONWEALTH MONITORING FORCE IN RHODESIA 1979 - 1980
part of "UNITED KINGDOM LAND FORCES" (photographs) Made by: British Army official photographer
Former guerillas of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe National Liberation Army (ZANLA) retrain for service with the Zimbabwe Army at Rathgar. British soldiers teach them the elements of army drill.