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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Collections search

Breeches, (NZ) Army Officer's
(uniforms and insignia)
Breeches
Six Sketches of Soldiers in Various Kit
(art) Made by: Berne-Bellecour, Jean
image: Six studies of British and Commonwealth soldiers in different kits. Clockwise from top left: a bare chested Australian wearing a slouch hat. A soldier in winter kit with a sheepskin gilet, a purple scarf, tin hat and carrying a stave. A raider...
Together
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor) 1939
whole: the image fills the majority of the design, with text, in yellow, contained within a black horizontal band at the bottom. All is surrounded by a plain white border. image: a group of seven British empire military personnel in uniform. From left to...
belt, with British, Canadian, New Zealand and French insignia
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Belt embellished with the insignia of various British, Canadian, New Zealand and French regiments. As worn by the donor, Rifleman Norman F. Ellison of the Liverpool Rifles and King's Liverpool Regiment, during service in France and Flanders from February...
ANZAC DAY AT DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS, BASRA, 25 APRIL 2005 [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: Defence Media Operations Centre, RAF Uxbridge (Royal Navy Combat Camera Team) (Production company) 2005-04-25
Unedited coverage of commemorative open-air ceremony at dawn at Divisional Headquarters (Basra Air Station).
belt, webbing, 1937 pattern
(equipment) Made by: Mills Equipment Company 1940
missing main buckle
personal equipment set, webbing, 1908 pattern
(equipment) Made by: MW and S Limited 1918
set lacks entrenching tool carrier, helve carrier and large pack
GENERAL MONTGOMERY VISITS REPATRIATED TROOPS [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: Chown, L B T (Production individual) 1943-04-25
The Commander-in-Chief visits repatriated prisoners of war at a tea party given at the British Embassy in Cairo.
REPATRIATION OF ALLIED TROOPS [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: Chown, L B T (Production individual) 1943-04-22
Disabled Allied troops arrive at Alexandria docks for repatriation.
THE ALLIED ARMIES IN THE WESTERN DESERT CAMPAIGN, 1940-1942
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1941-04-18
General Archibald Wavell, the Commander-in-Chief Middle East (middle in the front row), with a group of Allied (Indian, Australian, Ne Zealand, South African, Polish, Greek, Free French and Czechoslovakian Force) liaison officers. The officer in the...