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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Collections search

FALL OF TOBRUK [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: War Office Film Unit (Production company) 1941-01-24
19th Australian Division at the capture of Tobruk, Libya. Infantry moving forward, Tobruk burning in the background. Artillery moving up to take up nearer positions for shelling barrage. Prisoners arrive waving handkerchiefs and white rags. Group of...
MEDICAL OPERATIONS [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: War Office Film Unit (Production company) 1940-05-22
Casualties being removed from ambulances and hospital ship, record labels are removed from the casualties.
AIR RAID DAMAGE, BRUSSELS [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: War Office Film Unit (Production company) 1940-05-25
Air raid damage and refugees at Brussels.
ROYAL ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS IN NORTH AFRICA, CAMOUFLAGE [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: War Office Film Unit (Production company) 1940-12-31
RAOC Workshops and Camouflage Department at Abbassia Camp, Egypt. Sub base workshop. Interior shots of paintshop. Soldiers painting and camouflaging water-carrying lorries etc. Spraying department. Camouflaging an armoured car. Gun-towing lorries arrive...
VIMY RIDGE MEMORIAL; AIR RAID DAMAGE [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: War Office Film Unit (Production company) 1940-05-27
Vimy Ridge Memorial. Mr Roger and Lord Munster with march-past of Canadian troops in the Place. Air raid damage and refugees at Louvain. Burning car and buildings, French troops salvaging.
AIR RAID ON ARRAS [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: War Office Film Unit (Production company) 1940-05-15
Houses and shops in Arras blazing at night after dropping of incendiary bombs. Military Police and French fire brigade fighting the fires. Scenes shot the following morning showing gutted buildings and furniture piled in the street.
ATTACK ON DOUAI [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: War Office Film Unit (Production company) 1940-05-10
Damage done at Douai by the first bombing attack of the German invasion, in the early hours of the morning. Shots show windows blown out of houses and the Public Baths. A bomb dropped in the park has left a crater. Bomb damage on roof of the Abbel...
WESTERN DESERT [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: War Office Film Unit (Production company) 1941-12-18
Abandoned German tanks near Gambut, Libya. Italian prisoners working in Tobruk. Convoy going out to round up remaining pockets of Germans and Italians in Gambut area. Germans being captured and taken away. Crashed German plane at Gazala. British Matildas...
DESERT OFFENSIVE [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: War Office Film Unit (Production company) 1941-11-25
Preparations and actual battle scenes from the Battle of Tobruk, November 1941.
TOBRUK [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: Borradaile, Osmond (Production individual) 1941-07-17
Burnt out Italian cruiser San Georgia and other bombed ships in Tobruk harbour. 60 pounder guns. The planting of a minefield. Wrecked steamer Liguria (formerly named Montcalm and owned by CPR). Australian infantry in front line position. Bombed hospital...