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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recording
(sound) Made by: Baynham, Henry (Production company) 1973-01
British boy seaman served aboard HMS Minotaur on China Station, 1910-1912; leading seaman served aboard HMS Superb, 1912-1913; leading seaman and petty officer served aboard HMS Canada and HMS Sable in North Sea, 1914-1918. Boatswain served with Royal...
ROYAL AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT INTERWAR PERIOD
part of "VICKERS ARMSTRONG LIMITED"
Spitfire Mk.3 Experimental (later became prototype Mk.9), chassis number N3297, ground view.
ROYAL AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT INTERWAR PERIOD
part of "VICKERS ARMSTRONG LIMITED"
Spitfire Mk.5 Prototype Experimetnal Float-plane, ground view.
ROYAL AIR FORCE 1939-1945: COASTAL COMMAND
part of "MINISTRY OF SUPPLY" (photographs)
Supermarine Scapa flying boat in flight, circa 1937.
ADMIRALTY NAVAL INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT
part of "ADMIRALTY NAVAL INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT" (photographs)
German Battlelship SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN
Heroes of the XXth Century: Hitler and Mussolini
(art) Made by: Mayen, Eric 1995
image: An Italian postage stamp bearing the images of Hilter and Mussolini. The border is painted in umber acrylic paint and decorated with a flying flag in each upper corner. This is placed just below centre within a white sheet of paper.
Heroes of the XXth Century: Hitler
(art) Made by: Mayen, Eric 1995
image: A German postage stamp bearing the image of Hitler with a painted border in umber acrylic paint. This is placed just above centre within a white sheet of paper.
Private Papers of Captain V A Wight-Boycott OBE DSC RN
(private papers) Made by: Wight-Boycott, V A
Very extensive collection of ms and ts letters covering his service as a midshipman in the cruiser HMS SUSSEX and destroyer HMS WRYNECK in the Mediterranean Fleet (with his Midshipman's Journals) from April 1929 - March 1932; as a Sub Lieutenant in the...
FUKUI SHIZUO (LT CDR)

Japanese Submarine I-58,
IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION
(photographs)
No description available