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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Hartwell, Roy William 'Bunt (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-04-28
British NCO served as pilot with 90 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1941-1942; served with 15 Operational Training Unit, RAF on Malta, 5/1942; served with 108 Sqdn, RAF in North Africa, 1942
Bucke, Reginald (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-02-20
British stoker served aboard HMS Fowey in Persian Gulf, 1934-1936; served with HMS Aphis on China Station, 1937-1939; served aboard submarines HMS Triton, HMS Perseus, HMS Otus and HMS Satyr in North Sea and Mediterranean, 1940-1943; served aboard...
Harrison, Frank Gordon (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-09-17
British NCO served with Yeomanry Patrol, Long Range Desert Group in North Africa, 1941-1943; served with N Patrol, Long Range Desert Group in Italy, 1944
Howarth, Patrick John Fielding (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-06-25
British officer served with Special Operations Executive in GB and as representative of Polish-Czech section in Special Operations Executive Headquarters Cairo, Egypt, 1941-1944
Beevor, John Grosvenor (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-11-10
British civilian child in Scarborough, GB during German naval bombardment, 1914; officer served with H Section, Special Operations Executive in Portugal, 1941-1942; served as assistant to Sir Charles Hambro at Headquarters, Special Operations Executive...
Sherwood, James Barlow Brooks (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-05-11
British NCO served with 8 Troop, 8 Commando in GB, 1940; served with Folboat Section in GB, 1940-1941; served with Folboat Section, Layforce in Egypt and Mediterranean, 1941; served with 1 Special Boat Section in Mediterranean and North Africa, 1941-1943...
Birch, Frederick (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-04-28
British NCO served with 7 Commando in GB, 1940-1941; served with 7 Commando attached to Layforce A in North Africa and on Crete, 1941; served as instructor with Commando Base, Geneifa, Egypt, 6/1941-9/1941; served with 11 Commando during raid on Rommel's...
Petts, Ronald John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-03-02
British civilian artist and conscientious objector in London and Wales, GB, 1939-1941; agricultural worker in GB, 1941-1944; private served with Pioneer Corps in GB, 1944; NCO served with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in North...
Quibell, Jack William Robert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-03-10
British signalman served with Middlesex Yeomanry in North Africa, 1940-1943
Patch, James Douglas (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-09-10
British gunner served with Long Range Desert Group in North Africa and Greece, 1941-1943; POW escaped and served with Chetniks in Yugoslavia, 1943-1945