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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Collections search

La Grande Guerre 1914-1918:Vol. 2
(sound) Made by: Institut des Archives Sonores (Production company)
Compilation of archive recordings and interviews with politicians, soldiers and civilians entitled 'La Grande Guerre 1914-1918: Vol.2'. CD 3 of 3. In French, English, Italian, Russian, Serbian and German with linking commentary in French. Includes music
La Grande Guerre 1914-1918:Vol. 2
(sound) Made by: Institut des Archives Sonores (Production company)
Compilation of archive recordings and interviews with politicians, soldiers and civilians entitled 'La Grande Guerre 1914-1918: Vol.2'. CD 2 of 3. In French, German and Italian with linking commentary in French
THE GERMAN ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT 1914-1918
part of "GERMAN FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL EXCHANGE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: German official photographer 1917-11
Italian prisoners at Cavidale after the defeat on the Tagliamento.
Private Papers of J E Parkinson
(private papers) Made by: Parkinson, J E
Ms diary (60pp) for November 1942 - December 1943 and a 1944 pocket diary with entries for January - July, together with a ts transcript (25pp) of the two diaries, covering his service, with the rank of lance corporal, as a jeep driver and later...
UNITED NEWS [Series Title]
(film) Made by: United Newsreel Corporation (Production company) 1943-08
Edition of United News from summer 1943, showing American bombing raids in Europe, a meeting of Allied generals in Sicily, volunteer agricultural workers in Indiana, the use of a oversized bus to move troops, an award to US Army Air Forces General...
Collection: ROY WILLIAM VICTOR (LANCE CORPORAL)
(photographs) Made by: Unknown Photographer
Large sized leather album relating to Lance Corporal William Victor Roy's service with the Army Service Corps in the British Military Legation in Beijing (Peking), China in 1908. Collection presents a good variety of images of various European armies...