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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Tregear, Frederick Mansel Vincent (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1979-08-24
British officer served with 2nd Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers in Egypt, 1924-1926
Wilkinson, David Anthony Clement (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1979
British officer served with 2nd Bn Essex Regt in Egypt and Sudan, 1935-1937; served with 1st Bn Essex Regt in Palestine, 1937-1938
Bredin, Humphrey Edgar Nicholson (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1980-01-17
British officer served with 2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles and Special Night Squads in Palestine, 1937-1939
Suter, Frederick Thomas (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1980-01-29
British NCO served with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards in China, 1927-1928; served with 1st Bn Coldstream Guards in Sudan and Egypt, 1932-1933
Grove, Michael Richard Leslie (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1979-12-03
British officer served with 2nd Bn Royal West Kent Regt and Special Night Squads in Palestine, 1937-1938
Stalley, John Gardner (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1979-11-12
British drummer served with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt in Palestine, Egypt and Iraq, 1931-1932
Hose, Harold Cyril Robert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1979-11-14
British officer served with 1st Bn Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt in Palestine, 1938-1939
Gratton, John Stewart Sancroft (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1979-11-21
British officer served with 2nd Bn Hampshire Regt in Palestine, 1936-1938
Cooper, John Terence (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1979-12-12
British officer served with 2nd Bn Berkshire Regt in Palestine, 1934-1936; served with Iraq Levies in Iraq, 1936-1943
Rowley, Edward Duncan Tristram (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1979-11-29
British officer served with 14th Hussars in Mesopotamia, 1916-1918; served with 1st Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers in Egypt and Turkey, 1921-1923