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 Road To Wancourt : Monchy-le-preux in the Distance
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: a soldier walks by a roofed dugout, outside which another soldier is seated.
Men in the Trenches, near Hendicourt
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: a view along a trench turning to the right, topped on the left by a row of blasted trees, with the entrance to a dugout on the right side.
Trenches In Front Of Arras : The Runner
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: in the foreground of the landscape are trenches, shell holes and several dead soldiers. On the horizon a small figure is standing, with a shell exploding to the right.
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lieutenant) 1917-04-29
Scottish troops advancing east of Arras, 29 April 1917.
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Brooks Ernest (Lt) 1917-05-26
Cavalry: British cavalry await orders to move forward during operations in the Arras region. Thousands of cavalry horses and troops were kept in reserve during the stalemate on the Western Front.
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Brooks, Ernest (Lieutenant) 1917-04-10
British infantry awaiting orders to move forward from a reserve trench near Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, 10 April 1917.
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Brooks, Ernest (Lieutenant) 1917-04-10
British infantry awaiting orders to move forward from a reserve trench near Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, 10 April 1917.
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Brooks, Ernest (Lieutenant) 1917-04
German prisoners of war wait outside a prisoner collecting station in Arras after their arrival from the battlefield.
THE BATTLE OF ARRAS 1917
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Brooke J W (Lt) 1917-04-13
Cavalry moving forward past a trench held by British infantry near Monchy-le-Preux, 13 April 1917.
THE BATTLE OF ARRAS 1917
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Brooke J W (Lt) 1917-04-09
Battle of the Scarpe: British infantry congregating around a ditched tank on the Fampoux road shortly after the area was captured by elements of the 4th Division on 9 April 1917.