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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Collections search

recording
(sound) Made by: nnn (recorder) 1963
British NCO served with British Army on Western Front, 1915, including Battle of Loos, 25/9/1915
SANDHURST [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Callaway, Ian (Production individual) 1975-09-15
Documentary about the training of young officers at Sandhurst.
Being So Cheerful: A Laugh And A Joke, Mate
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1999-08-03
BBC Radio 4 three-part series entitled 'Being So Cheerful' about how the BBC's wartime wireless programmes kept Britain entertained during the Second World War. Part 2. A Laugh And A Joke, Mate
Last Tales From The South China Seas : 3 - One Man's War
(sound) Made by: Allen, Charles (recorder) 1984-01-17
BBC Radio 4 series entitled 'Last Tales From The South China Seas'. Programme 3: 'One Man's War': a soldier's experiences at the fall of Singapore and as a POW of the Japanese
Art in the Trenches
(sound) Made by: Snow, Dan (interviewee/speaker) 2007-12-26
BBC Radio 4 programme entitled 'Art in the Trenches'. Dan Snow joins an archaeological dig in Thiepval Wood, France in the search for items of trench art from the First World War
Archive Hour: Army Of Occupation
(sound) Made by: Olusoga, David (interviewee/speaker) 1999-11-13
BBC Radio 4 programme entitled 'Army of Occupation'. David Olusoga examines the allied occupation of Germany after the First World War
Return Of The Soldier
(sound) Made by: Various (interviewee/speaker) 1995-05-08
BBC Radio 4 programme entitled 'Return of the Soldier'; recollections of returning British servicemen and their wives at the end of the Second World War in 1945
Scars On The Landscape
(sound) Made by: Various (interviewee/speaker) 1995-05-08
BBC Radio 4 programme entitled 'Scars on the Landscape' examining the architectural legacy left by the Second World War
recording
(sound) Made by: Weston, Simon et al (interviewee/speaker) 2007-06-06
BBC Radio 4 programme entitled 'Soldier's Haven'. Simon Weston talks to three soldiers wounded in combat being treated at Headley Court Military Hospital, Epsom, GB
recording
(sound) Made by: nnn (recorder) 1963
British NCO served on Western Front, 1915