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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Wireless Equipment, No 88 Set Type A: British
(equipment)
No description available
Lawrence, John Enoch (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985
British serviceman taken German POW in 5/1940 near Boulogne, France. Held in Schubin, Poland. 1944 transferred to Fallingbostel, walked from Breslau on Silesia Death March, released April/1945
Hall, Pierre Edward Arthur (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985
British NCO with the Royal Corps of Signals, served in Syria in 1941, based in Damascus
recording
(sound) Made by: Grafton, Peter (Production company) 1981
British civilians living and working in London during the Second World War. Stan Guest worked for Sainsbury's, married in 1940 volunteered from Army, served in North Africa
In God We Trust
(sound) Made by: BBC Scotland (Production company) 2006-11
BBC Radio Scotland series entitled 'In God We Trust'. Richard Holloway talks to soldiers and civilians about the importance of their religious beliefs during the Second World War. Programme 2 of 2
In God We Trust
(sound) Made by: BBC Scotland (Production company) 2006-11
BBC Radio Scotland series entitled 'In God We Trust'. Richard Holloway talks to soldiers and civilians about the importance of their religious beliefs during the Second World War. Programme 1 of 2
recording
(sound) Made by: Roach, Peter (Production company) 1948
British soldier served with Tank Corps in North Africa
Line Communication Equipment, Field Telephone Set "L": British
(equipment)
The Field Telephone Set 'L' was widely used by the British Army in the Second World War. It was introduced in 1941, and was a standard general-purpose field telephone designed for line communications. Field telephones were generally used in more...
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC 8904-5 (Production company) 1945-08-16
BBC radio broadcast by British officer entitled 'War Review', 16/Aug/1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Adam, Robert F (interviewee/speaker) 1943-09-02
Speech by British general at Cadet Training Unit passing-out parade, Sandhurst, 2/Sep/1943