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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Hitler Will Send No Warning - So Always Carry Your Gas Mask
(posters)
whole: the image is placed at the top with text arranged below, in red and black. Both are set against a plain white background and surrounded by a green serrated border. image: a pair of hands holding a black gas mask. text: Hitler will send no warning...
Women! You Are Needed in the National Fire Service
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image, accompanied by white text, is positioned in the upper half against a dark blue background. Below the image is a white band containing red text, with smaller text in white on a dark blue background set across the bottom. image: the head...
Gas Attack
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title, in large white lettering against a green background, is positioned at the top. Below are three sets of instructions, each subtitled with green lettering and displayed horizontally one above the other. The first has text on the left and...
A.R.P. HERE'S A MAN'S JOB!
(posters) Made by: Bowmar (artist)
image: head and shoulders of man wearing a cap, matching waistcoat, blue shirt, red tie and a leather wristband, raising his right arm and thumb against fluffy white clouds; his mouth open and upper teeth showing, he seems to be calling something out (...
Women Required for Motor Driving and Telephonist Duties
(posters) Made by: Clark, John Cosmo
image: An Auxiliary Fire Service woman driver, dressed in a very dark blue uniform at the wheel of a black vehicle; the main image covers the top two thirds of the poster, the rest being plain black and representing the side of the vehicle; only the face...
THE BADGE OF PUBLIC SERVICE
(posters) Made by: Bannister
image: gleaming silver ARP badge on a blue and pink background. text: THE BADGE OF PUBLIC SERVICE [image] GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL
HELP YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS TO HAVE A HOME AGAIN
(posters)
image: highlighted black and white photograph of pedestrians and onlookers who survey from the pavement, or walk over, the rubble of a bomb site; the badly damaged remains of buildings are behind; captions below on orange and white backgrounds text:HELP...