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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Stewart-Bam, Patricia Julia May (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-07-01
British officer served with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Air Liaison at Special Operations Executive < SOE> HQ, Baker Street, London 1943-1946
Atkins, Vera (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-01-06
British civilian in Winchelsea, GB, 1939-1941; officer served with F Section, Special Operations Executive at Baker Street, London 1941-1944 and in Paris, France, 1944-1945
Burke, Brenda (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-09-27
British civilian in Didsbury, GB, 1939-1945; met and married American serviceman in GB and US, 1945-1946
Kaye, Solly (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-11-04
British civilian in St Pancras and Stepney, London, GB, 1913-1934; member of Communist Party in Hackney, London, GB, 1934-1939; engineer with General Aircraft Company and Fairey Aviation in Hounslow, GB, 1940-1945
Noble, Lilian (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-09-25
British civilian in Gosport, GB, 1939-1945; emigrated as war bride to Canada, 1946; civilian in Canada, 1946-1986
Blanshard, Carlotta (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-11-29
British NCO served with 1st Glasgow Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB, 1938-1945
Rumbold, Margaret Mary (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-05-31
British civilian worked with Women's Land Army in Kent, 1939-1949
Cowen, Lily Asneth (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-08-28
British civilian in London, GB, 1939-1945
Scholes, John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-09-01
British private served with 4th Bn Parachute Regt in Italy, France, Greece and Palestine, 1943-1946
Mitchell, Warren (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-10-04
British civilian in London, GB, 1938-1944; aircraftsman trained as navigator with RAF in GB and Canada, 1944-1946