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 POLISH INDEPENDENT CARPATHIAN RIFLES BRIGADE IN THE SIEGE OF TOBRUK, 1941
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Keating G (Captain) 1941-12-06
Military Police of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade guarding German POWs digging trenches at Tobruk
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE WESTERN DESERT CAMPAIGN, 1940-1942
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1942-02-03
General Stanisław Kopański, the CO of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade, and his adjutant Second Lieutenant Stanisław Orłowski checking a map near Fort Mechili. The fort commanded the desert track south of the Derna coastal road and was a...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE WESTERN DESERT CAMPAIGN, 1940-1942
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1942-02-03
Artillery spotter of the Carpathian Artillery Regiment (Polish Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade) using Fort Mechili as their observation post. The fort commanded the desert track south of the Derna coastal road and was a very important defence point...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE WESTERN DESERT CAMPAIGN, 1940-1942
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1942-02-03
Artillery spotters of the Carpathian Artillery Regiment (Polish Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade) using scissors binoculars on the roof of Fort Mechili, their observation post. The fort commanded the desert track south of the Derna coastal road and...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE WESTERN DESERT CAMPAIGN, 1940-1942
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1942-02-03
Artillery spotters of the Carpathian Artillery Regiment (Polish Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade) using Fort Mechili as their observation post. The fort commanded the desert track south of the Derna coastal road and was a very important defence...
THE POLISH INDEPENDENT CARPATHIAN RIFLES BRIGADE IN THE SIEGE OF TOBRUK, 1941
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1941-12-06
German prisoners of war digging trenches while guarded by Military Police of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade at Tobruk.
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE WESTERN DESERT CAMPAIGN, 1940-1942
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1941-12-22
Italian troops surrendering to a patrol of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade on the road south-west of Gazala, Libya. One of the prisoners even brought his bicycle with him.
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE WESTERN DESERT CAMPAIGN, 1940-1942
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1941-12-22
Italian troops surrendering to a patrol of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade on the road south-west of Gazala, Libya. One of the prisoners even brought his bicycle with him.
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE WESTERN DESERT CAMPAIGN, 1940-1942
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1942-02-03
Troops of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade passing by an Italian Fiat M13/40 tank in a captured German Horch 108 transport car at Fort Mechili, Libya. The fort commanded the desert track south of the Derna coastal road and was a very...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE WESTERN DESERT CAMPAIGN, 1940-1942
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit 1941-12-22
Italian troops surrendering to a patrol of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade on the road south-west of Gazala, Libya.