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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On the Road South to Taormina with some Italian Prisoners in the Foreground
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1943
image: A stream of military trucks carrying prisoners wind their way down a hill, through an Italian village.
HRH PRINCE UMBERTO OF ITALY, MAY 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
HRH Prince Umberto conferring with Divisional General Guiseppe Cortese, extreme left, and other officers over a map table at an Italian camp during his visit to the Italian Corps of Liberation, Sparanise, Italy.
HRH PRINCE UMBERTO OF ITALY, MAY 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
HRH Prince Umberto conferring with officers over a map table at an Italian camp during his visit to the Italian Corps of Liberation, Sparanise, Italy.
HRH PRINCE UMBERTO OF ITALY, MAY 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
HRH Prince Umberto conferring with officers over a map table at an Italian camp during his visit to the Italian Corps of Liberation, Sparanise, Italy.
HRH PRINCE UMBERTO OF ITALY, MAY 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
HRH Prince Umberto conferring with officers over a map table at an Italian camp during his visit to the Italian Corps of Liberation, Sparanise, Italy.
HRH PRINCE UMBERTO OF ITALY, MAY 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
HRH Prince Umberto of Italy and his staff in a camouflaged position watching Italian Troops on manoeuvres during the Prince's visit to the Italian Corps of Liberation, Sparanise, Italy.
HRH PRINCE UMBERTO OF ITALY, MAY 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
HRH Prince Umberto inspecting a Guard of Honour during his visit to the Italian Corps of Liberation, Sparanise, Italy.
HRH PRINCE UMBERTO OF ITALY, MAY 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
HRH Prince Umberto confers with an Italian officer over a map at an Italian Army camp during his visit to the Italian Corps of Liberation, Sparanise, Italy.
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTHERN ITALY, 1943
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
Italian artillerymen demonstrating a gun dial sight to the first Allied soldier to be attached to an Italian unit after the Armistice, Sergeant P Hopkinson of the Royal Engineers.
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTHERN ITALY, 1943
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
The first Allied soldier to be attached to an Italian unit after the Armistice, Sergeant P Hopkinson of the Royal Engineers helps Italian artillerymen pull through the barrel of a gun.