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 Gymnasium : Dermatological Ward, Colchester Military Hospital
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1943
image: A view of a low red brick building on the top of an embankment, drawn from below. Men wearing blue trousers and khaki shirts lie about in the sunshine on the grass below the building.
In the Square at Dunkirk, Before the Embarkation, 1940
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1940
image: Three Scottish soldiers lying on the ground, sheltering among some small shrubs. One smokes a cigarette. Buildings burn in the background.
Dunkirk, May 1940 : Boys serving coffee
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1940
image: A view of two boys serving coffee to a British officer from a table to the left. The officer stands with his back to the viewer. In the corner of the room there are a sink and a stove. Two British soldiers watch through the glass front of the...
The Quay at Dunkirk
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1940
image: View of the burning quayside at Dunkirk with soldiers entering an underground shelter. Bomb craters to left of composition
Armentieres after Bombing, May 1940
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1940
image: View along a street in Armentieres with a burning building in centre background and three soldiers standing by a basement shelter
A Court-Martial, Halluin
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1940
image: an interior court martial scene with a Sergeant in profile wearing a forage cap and sitting with his arms folded in the right foreground, with another man next to him. On the left a military official sits writing at a desk. Two soldiers are...
Constructing a Blockhouse, Halluin
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1940
image: view of the metal and wooden framework of a square blockhouse with three soldiers at work on it in the right foreground. Three other men are sitting behind the framework wearing gas masks. There are buildings in the background and a large sheet...
Jumping Tower for the Training of Polish Parachute Troops at Largo, Fife
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1943
image: A training tower for parachutists with a figure hanging from a parachute attached to the upper crane
Sergeant W Venes : Hyderabad Barracks, Colchester
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1943
image: A portrait of the Sergeant lying in a hospital bed wearing pyjamas. Next to the bed is a bedside cabinet with an enamel mug and a greetings card.
Exercise Kruschen (Dunwich Common): Artillery Barrage; 25 Pounders
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward
image: Two soldiers standing next to each other on the Common. The man on the right stands with his arms at his sides, facing the viewer with a grenade in his right hand. the image is cropped so that only the lower portion of his face is visible. The man...