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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BRITISH WORKERS GUARD THEIR WORK: THE HOME GUARD, ENGLAND, 1941
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Corporal Chisholm, second from left, and colleagues line up on parade with their bayonets. They are part of the Home Guard Company for the Arms Factory at which they all work.
BRITISH WORKERS GUARD THEIR WORK: THE HOME GUARD, ENGLAND, 1941
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A group of Home Guard are trained in the use of a Northover Projector near the factory at which they work, somewhere in England, 1941.
BRITISH WORKERS GUARD THEIR WORK: THE HOME GUARD, ENGLAND, 1941
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Men of a factory Home Guard charge across a field towards the camera, bayonets fixed, as part of a training exercise, somewhere in England, 1941.
HOME GUARD MAN ANTI AIRCRAFT GUN: CIVIL DEFENCE IN BRITAIN, 1943
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Men of the Home Guard listen to a lecture by a Royal Artillery Sergeant on how to identify enemy aircraft. Model planes hang against a white-washed wall to aid in the identification process.
HOME GUARD MAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN: CIVIL DEFENCE IN BRITAIN, 1943
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) bring food to members of the Home Guard before they begin their night duty manning an anti-aircraft (AA) gun.
VILLAGE HOME GUARD, SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND, C 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Home Guard bayonet instructor Corporal Charles Batchelor thrusts his bayonet firmly into a hanging sack (representing the enemy) during a training exercise in an English village.
An Evening Parade of the L.D.V. (Local Defence Volunteers) in their Early Days
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1940
image: A group of men lined-up on parade on a village street, watched by some women and children. Across the street, a man looks on, standing astride a bicycle.