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 War in Maida Vale : 'There Is Life in the Old Dogs Yet'
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1941
image: A group of elderly home guards stand outside a pub watching a blonde girl weraing a black suit walk by.
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...
A Day with the Home Guard: the battle rages for the Bank of England
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1941
image: seen from the junction of Cornhill and Lothbury Street, a close engagement is in progress, with smoke in the background. Amid fierce action, confused civilians are still emerging from the Tube. To the right another remonstrates with a soldier who...
Mein Pal!
(posters) Made by: Smith, John S (artist)
image: on the left a rather too congenial cartoon-like figure of Hitler in a grey German uniform and cap, seen three quarters on, and from the chest up; he clasps with bare hands the shoulders of an absentee Home Guard soldier; the latter is seen in the...