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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Burma : British troops in billets, Pegu - Sunday morning
(art) Made by: Cole, Leslie 1945
image: Three soldiers in a hut with a row of camp beds. Above them twisted mosquito nets are suspended. One soldier is lying on his bed reading a paper. Another soldier sits with his legs crossed to the left. To the right the third soldier kneels over...
ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN THE FAR EAST, 1941-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Air Force official photographer
Pilots of No. 28 Squadron RAF gather round their Army Liaison Officer as he examines prints of aerial reconnaissance photographs on the hood of a jeep at Sadaung, Burma. They are, (left to right): Flying Officer R Quixley of Penang, Malaya; Flying...
THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST: THE BURMA CAMPAIGN 1941-1945
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit
The Battle of Imphal-Kohima March - July 1944: British soldiers search through long grass for Japanese snipers while covered by a Bren gun team.
THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST: THE BURMA CAMPAIGN 1941-1945
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit
The Battle of Imphal-Kohima March - July 1944: British infantrymen use a dismounted tank machine gun at Kohima.
THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST: THE BURMA CAMPAIGN 1941-1945
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit
The Battle of Imphal-Kohima March - July 1944: The link-up at Milestone 109 between the two arms of the 14th Army which relieved the Japanese siege of Imphal.
THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST: THE BURMA CAMPAIGN 1941-1945
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit
The Battle of Imphal-Kohima March - July 1944: Scene of devastation at Naga village near Kohima taken after fierce resistance from the Japanese, by the 7th Indian Division.
THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST: THE BURMA CAMPAIGN 1941-1945
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit
The Retreat into India: British troops destroy equipment and machinery at the Yenangyaung oilfields before retreating.
Improperly Dressed
(art) Made by: Searle, Ronald William Fordham 1943
image: a soldier dressed in a patched, ragged uniform stands to attention in front of a large officer seated at a small table. The Officer is bare-chested and his shorts are also patched. text:'I will not tolerate my men in this camp being improperly...
The Hospital Camp, Thailand
(art) Made by: Searle, Ronald William Fordham 1943
image: prisoners and guards pause and salute in a thoroughfare between two rows of huts as two men walk through the camp holding a large container suspended between them on a pole.
New Arrivals At The Hospital Camp
(art) Made by: Searle, Ronald William Fordham 1943
image: men on stretchers are carried towards a row of tents by soldiers wearing arm bands marked with the red cross. In the foreground injured and sick soldiers lie on the ground with their luggage while another walks past with his arm in a sling and his...