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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recording
(sound) Made by: Churchill, Winston Leonard Spencer (interviewee/speaker) 1940-07-14
BBC radio broadcast by British Prime Minister's after fall of France, 14/Jul/1940. Scuttling of French ships at Dakar, invasion threat, defence of GB including Home Guard. "We stand alone." "Should the invader come...there will be no placid lying down...
recording
(sound) Made by: EDEN, ANTHONY (interviewee/speaker) 1940-05-14
British civilian Secretary of State for War appeals for men to join the Local Defence Volunteers (Home Guard) 5/1940
Hidden Heroes
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1998-09-29
BBC Radio 4 programme entitled 'Hidden Heroes' about the role of the secret Auxiliary Units in Britain during the Second World War
Churchill's Secret Army
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1998-11-08
BBC Radio Suffolk programme entitled 'Churchill's Secret Army' about the role of the secret Auxiliary Units in Britain during the Second World War
Document: Dad's Revolutionary Army
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 2005-09-05
BBC Radio 4 programme entitled 'Document: Dad's Revolutionary Army'. Mike Thomson investigates the origins of Britain's wartime Home Guard and discovers evidence of a left-wing revolutionary army trained to wage war on Downing Street should Britain ever...
Kent's Secret Army
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1990-01-21
BBC Radio 4 programme entitled 'Kent's Secret Army' about the role of the secret Auxiliary Units in Britain during the Second World War