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

Private Papers of J Bormann
(private papers) Made by: Bormann, J
Seven ms diaries (372pp) with a ts transcription (78pp) recording with brief entries his service as a Bomb Aimer with the RAAF, February 1943 - May 1945, including: his journey from Australia to the USA, January 1943, training in the USA, February -...
Adolf Hitler
(art) Made by: Unknown
image: A black painted bust of Hitler with a broken base.
War Boy, 1993
(art) Made by: Berry, John (artist) 1980
box: A heavy board covered with blue denim material with leatherette corners and overprinted with a ship's camouflage design and 'K41'. The interior of the box is lined with grey felt with a compartment for the smaller volume in the main lid. The clasp...
RAF 1941
(art) Made by: Burns, Thomas Jones 1941
No description available
(Derived Title) The Phra Chai Medallion
(decorations and awards) Made by: Brand, W (artist) 1945
design : Buddha, small head of, above three lines of text. The Buddha and text are enclosed by a circle which is in turn surrounded by text. Design and text on black enamel background which is surrounded by a narrow black enamel circle text : "Thailand...
(Derived Title) The Phra Chai Medallion
(decorations and awards) Made by: Brand, W (artist) 1945
obverse design : Buddha, small head of, above three lines of text. The Buddha and text are enclosed by a circle which is in turn surrounded by text obverse text : "Thailand 1945" (accompanied by Thai scipt and enclosed by circle) & "In the Buddha's...
British Military Hospital, Alexander, Singapore
(decorations and awards) Made by: Brand, W (artist) 1945
obverse design : British Military Hospital, Alexander, Singapore, view of, enclosed by circle obverse text : "British Military Hospital, Alexander, Singapore." (above the building) & "Massacre, 14 + 15 Feb, 1942" (base) & "32 Coy R.A.M.C. A.D.C....
(Derived Title) The Medicant Medallion
(decorations and awards) Made by: Brand, W (artist) 1945
design : serpent, Aesculapian, coiled around a vertical piece of bamboo and enclosed by a belt-like scroll bearing text text : "F.E.P.O.W. FEB 1942 AUG 1945" (divided by bamboo) & "+ 196. 197. 198. the MEDICANT Field Ambulance." (upper edge on scroll...