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

Street Incident, Londonderry
(art) Made by: Maccabe, Gladys 1973
image: A crowd of civilians, including children, stand in a street overlooked by a British soldier, who stands in the immediate foreground to the left. There are houses in the background and to the left.
Riding into Barmouth
(art) Made by: Adshead, Mary 1941
image: Four British soldiers wearing uniform, including steel helmets camouflaged with leafy twigs, ride bicycles down a steep street into the town of Barmouth. A few civilians watch them from the doorways of buildings.
Brigadier Ivan de la Bere, OBE : in charge of troops during the siege of Malta
(art) Made by: Cole, Leslie 1943
image: A half-length portrait of Brigadier Ivan de la Bere, seated in uniform. On the wall behind him is a map of Malta.
map case, British
(equipment) Made by: W and G 1944
Second World War vintage British Army issue map case. According to information received at the time of acquisition this item has been tentatively associated with the Anglo-French Suez military operations of 1956.
Embarking Bulldozers
(art) Made by: Bone, Stephen 1944
image: a view looking down a slip way as two soldiers drive a bulldozer towards one of two waiting landing craft.
Portrait of Auchinleck
(art) Made by: Mount, Cyril 1963
image: A head and shoulders portrait of Claude Auchinleck.
Colonel "H" Jones Attacking a Machine-Gun Position
(art) Made by: Williams, Bob
No description available
Argentinian Prisoners Wander Around Windswept Stanley Airfield
(art) Made by: Williams, Bob
No description available
Argentinian Gunboat Attacks Reconnaissance Helicopter
(art) Made by: Williams, Bob
No description available
Argentinian 'Boy' Soldiers Surrender their Arms
(art) Made by: Williams, Bob
No description available