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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THE POLISH ARMY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1941-1943
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Smales (Sergeant) 1943-03-22
Poles and Australians were together during the siege of Tobruk.To commemorate the comradeship which sprang up between them there, the Poles presented the Australians with all badges of the Polish Army, Navy and Air Force. These pictures show the ceremony...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1941-1943
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Smales (Sergeant) 1943-03-22
Poles and Australians were together during the siege of Tobruk.To commemorate the comradeship which sprang up between them there, the Poles presented the Australians with all badges of the Polish Army, Navy and Air Force. These pictures show the ceremony...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1941-1943
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Smales (Sergeant) 1943-03-22
Poles and Australians were together during the siege of Tobruk.To commemorate the comradeship which sprang up between them there, the Poles presented the Australians with all badges of the Polish Army, Navy and Air Force. These pictures show the ceremony...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1941-1943
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1943-01-02
Polish boys who are at school in Nazareth, attended a special Christmas service for Roman Catholics at Bethlehem, Palestine. They are orphans deported by the Soviets to Siberia in 1939 and evacuated from the Soviet Union to Persia and Palestine with the...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1941-1943
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1943-01-02
Polish boys who are at school in Nazareth, attended a special Christmas service for Roman Catholics at Bethlehem, Palestine. They are orphans deported by the Soviets to Siberia in 1939 and evacuated from the Soviet Union to Persia and Palestine with the...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1941-1943
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1943-01-02
Polish boys who are at school in Nazareth, attended a special Christmas service for Roman Catholics at Bethlehem, Palestine. They are orphans deported by the Soviets to Siberia in 1939 and evacuated from the Soviet Union to Persia and Palestine with the...
THE TOUGH TACTICS SCHOOL IN KERMANSHAH, PERSIA
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1942-11-24
The Tough Tactics Scholl at Kermanshah in Persia existed to give courses of advanced Physical Training and unarmed combat to selected officers and men of the Middle East and the Persian and Iraq Forces. The students, after a strenuous 14 days course,...
THE TOUGH TACTICS SCHOOL IN KERMANSHAH, PERSIA
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1942-11-24
The Tough Tactics Scholl at Kermanshah in Persia existed to give courses of advanced Physical Training and unarmed combat to selected officers and men of the Middle East and the Persian and Iraq Forces. The students, after a strenuous 14 days course,...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1941-1943
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1943-01-02
Polish boys who are at school in Nazareth, attended a special Christmas service for Roman Catholics at Bethlehem, Palestine. They are orphans deported by the Soviets to Siberia in 1939 and evacuated from the Soviet Union to Persia and Palestine with the...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1941-1943
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1943-01-02
Polish boys who are at school in Nazareth, attended a special Christmas service for Roman Catholics at Bethlehem, Palestine. They are orphans deported by the Soviets to Siberia in 1939 and evacuated from the Soviet Union to Persia and Palestine with the...