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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Britain's Sea Power is Yours!
(posters) Made by: Thomas, Walter (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the Admiralty seal placed in the upper right. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge and bottom edge, in red. The text is integrated and placed in the lower right, in white. All set against a...
Britain's Sea Power is Yours!
(posters) Made by: Thomas, Walter (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the Admiralty seal placed in the lower left. The title is separate and positioned along the bottom edge, in white, set against a grey background. The text is integrated and placed in the lower right, in white...
Every Minute Counts!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned in the upper four-fifths, with a smaller image placed in the upper half. The title and text are partially integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in red cursive script, and in the lower half, in white. Further...
These Men Went Through Hell for you
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941
whole: the three images are positioned in the upper left, centre and lower right. The title is separate and located in the upper quarter, in blue. The text is separate and placed in the upper right, centre right, centre left and lower left, in black. All...
Britain's Sea Power is Yours!
(posters) Made by: Mason, Frank (artist) 1945
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the Admiralty seal placed in the lower right. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge and bottom edge, in red. The text is integrated and placed in the lower left, in white. All set against a...
Put It There!
(posters) Made by: Strube, (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within a black border. The title is separate and placed in the bottom edge centre, in blue. The text is integrated and positioned in the centre left, in black, and in the centre and centre right, in white....
Combined Operations Include you
(posters) Made by: Pym, Harold (artist)
whole: the two images occupy the majority, with the title partially integrated and positioned across the top edge and centre, in red, and across the bottom edge, in red and in white. The official seal of the Admiralty is located in the bottom right...
Britain Expects that You Too, this Day, Will Do Your Duty
(posters) Made by: Forster, Harold [attributed] (artist)
whole: the two images occupy the whole. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper right and centre right, in red. All set against a white background. image: the upper image is a three-quarter length depiction of a British sailor, positioned...
And the Navy Goes On
(posters) Made by: Forster, Harold [attributed] (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole, with a large orange cross superimposed across the upper left quarter. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper right, in orange. image: a seascape, depicting a British Naval battleship sailing during stormy...
More! More! More! More! Engines
(posters) Made by: Forster, Harold [attributed] (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in red and in blue. The official seal of the British Admiralty is located in the bottom left corner. image: a depiction of a large blue engine,...