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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Richards, Brooks (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-09-21
British officer served aboard HMS Jewel and HMS Sevra in GB coastal waters 1939-1941; served with Naval Section, Special Operations Executive operating Helford River Flotilla in GB, 1941-1942; commanded No. 1 Special Force in Algeria and Tunisia 1942-...
McKerchar, John Stewart (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984-11-08
British officer served with 5th Reconnaissance Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps in Italy and North West Europe, 1944-1945
Brook, Robin (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-06-06
British intelligence officer served as Director of Western Europe in GB and Europe with with SO2, Special Operations Executive in GB, 1942-1945; representative to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force 1944-1945
Petts, Ronald John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-03-02
British civilian artist and conscientious objector in London and Wales, GB, 1939-1941; agricultural worker in GB, 1941-1944; private served with Pioneer Corps in GB, 1944; NCO served with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in North...
MacAuslan, John Mechan (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984-06-18
British officer served with 5th Reconnaissance Regt in Italy, Palestine and North West Europe, 1944-1945
Cook, Walter George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British private served as stretcher-bearer and medical orderly with 27th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps attached to 9th (Scottish) Div on Western Front, 1915-1918; served as private in Royal Army Service Corps with Disarmament Commission in...
Kember, William George Victor (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-03-06
British private and NCO served with Royal Army Service Corps in GB and Iceland, 1939-1943; officer served with Royal Army Service Corps attached to Headquarters, 12th Corps in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945
Inskip, Joseph Huntington (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-11-20
British guardsman served with 4th Bn Coldstream Guards in GB and North West Europe, 1940-1945
Scott, Frank Lionel (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2001-01-22
British civilian in Kennington, London, GB, 1940-1941; private served with Headquarters, 165th Heavy Anti- Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery in GB and North West Europe, 1941-1945
Keeble, Henry George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-03-25
British cook served with 2nd Light Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in GB and France, 1939-1944; served with 20th Field Dressing Station in North West Europe, 1944-1945