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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Air Defence is Home Defence
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper half, in blue. The text is separate and placed across the bottom edge, in black, set against a white background. image: a depiction of a family having a picnic...
The London Cyclists
(posters) Made by: Ibbetson, Ernest (artist) 1912
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title and text integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white. Further text is integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, in black and in red. All held within a black border. image: a battle...
Gee! I Wish I Were a Man
(posters) Made by: Christy, Howard Chandler 1917
whole: the image is positioned in the left half of the design, with text in red and blue placed to the right and underneath the image. image: a depicition of an attractive young woman wearing the uniform of a United States Navy sailor. text: GEE!! I WISH...
If You Want to Fight - Join the Marines
(posters) Made by: Christy, Howard Chandler 1918
whole: the image fills the majority with text incorporated above and below, in blue and red. image: a young woman shown wearing the dark blue uniform and cap of the US Marines. Behind her in the lower left, US Marines in combat kit are grouped around the...
Join the Wrens - and Free a Man for the Fleet
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is integrated and located in the lower half, in white and in grey. The text is partially integrated and placed along the top edge, in blue, and in the lower quarter, in brown. All set against a white...
Join the Royal Air Force
(posters) Made by: F R (artist) 1918
whole: the image fills the whole with text incorporated above and below, in yellow, red and black. Below the image is a scrolled cartouche detailing rates of pay. image: an aerial dogfight with an RAF fighter diving to attack a German aircraft that...
Play the Game ... Join the Football Battalion of the Die-Hards (17th Middlesex)
(posters) Made by: Publicity Department, Central London Recruiting Depot, Whitehall (Publisher)
No description available
Latest orders of the Kaiser to his generals
(posters) Made by: S G Mason, Printer (printer) 1914
No description available