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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War Weapons Week in a Country Town
(art) Made by: Ford, Michael 1941
image: A street scene in a small town. A brass band, Girl Guides, Police and Home Guard participate in War Weapons Week outside a community hall and are watched by a crowd of civilians. Union flags are on display and a speech is being made from a...
Home Guards brewing Tea just before Dawn
(art) Made by: Ford, Michael 1941
image: Two Home Guards inside a small wooden hut, brewing tea by candlelight.
Snap into it - Men 18-19 1/2 - Home Defence
(posters) Made by: Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a blue background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in red cursive script. The subtitle is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in white, set against a green...
'Let 'em All Come' - Home Defence Battalions
(posters) Made by: Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist) 1939
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a green background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white outlined red cursive script. The subtitle and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in...
Let 'em All Come - Home Defence Battalions
(posters) Made by: Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist) 1940
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a green background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white outlined red cursive script. The subtitle and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in...
Members of a Home Guard Ack-Ack Gun Team, September 1943
(art) Made by: Kennington, Eric Henri (RA) 1943
image: two Home Guard Anti-Aircraft gunners load an anti-aircraft gun during an air raid at night.
Grasmere Home Guard
(art) Made by: Spencer, Gilbert (RA) 1943
image: In the foreground the Home Guard are issued with equipment and rifles. Behind them is a landscape of trees and a lake.
The Home Guard in a Tank Landing Craft Exercise, Oban
(art) Made by: Bone, Stephen
image: a view of the backs of two British officers standing at the bridge of a landing craft with the coastline visible ahead. A large number of Home Guards are sitting or standing on the deck below.
Major-General The Viscount Bridgeman, CB, DSO, MC
(art) Made by: Moynihan, Rodrigo (CBE, RA) 1944
image: Three-quarter portrait of Bridgeman in uniform
West Country Manoeuvres: We Are Held Up by Ferocious Home Guards
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1941
image: A group of soldiers in a country lane at night, a full moon in the sky. The soldiers are being held at gunpoint by a contingent of the Home Guard, one of whom is searching a large soldier standing to the right of the composition with his trousers...