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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Eddington, Paul Clark (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-06-06
British civilian conscientious objector and actor with ENSA in GB, 1939-1945
Spender, Stephen Harold (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1990-11-04
British civilian poet in London, GB, 1939-1941; fireman with London Fire Service and National Fire Service in London, GB, 1941-1944; officer with Foreign Office in Germany, 1945-1946
Patten, Marguerite (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1996-03-28
British civilian home economist worked for Ministry of Food, 1942-1945 and for Food Advice Bureau, Harrods Department Store in London, 1943-1951
Melamed Adams, Alicia Biaca (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1998-11-10
Polish Jewish civilian artist living in Drohobycz, Eastern Galicia, Poland, 1927-1940; inmate in Drohobycz Ghetto and Beskiden camp, 1940-1945
Edmead, Frank (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1993-12-06
British conscientious objector served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1946. Post-war career as journalist with Manchester Guardian
Cuneo, Terence Tenison (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1978
British civilian artist served with Royal Corps of Signals and Royal Engineers and worked for Ministry of Information, Political Intelligence Dept (Foreign Office) and War Artists Advisory Committee in GB, 1939-1945
Reverie No 14
(sound) Made by: ENSA (Production company) 1946
Overseas Recorded Broadcasting Service entertainment programme broadcast in GB and to troops abroad 1942-1946. ENSA programme featuring Army Salon Orchestra directed by Eric Robinson
Reverie No 15
(sound) Made by: ENSA (Production company) 1946
Overseas Recorded Broadcasting Service entertainment programme broadcast in GB and to troops abroad 1942-1946. ENSA programme featuring Army Salon Orchestra directed by George Melachrino
Reverie No 12
(sound) Made by: ENSA (Production company) 1946
Overseas Recorded Broadcasting Service entertainment programme broadcast in GB and to troops abroad 1942-1946. ENSA programme featuring Army Salon Orchestra directed by Eric Robinson
Reverie No 13
(sound) Made by: ENSA (Production company) 1946
Overseas Recorded Broadcasting Service entertainment programme broadcast in GB and to troops abroad 1942-1946. ENSA programme featuring Army Salon Orchestra directed by Eric Robinson