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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Dreyer, Christopher William Stuart (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-09-03
British officer commanded MTB 102, 3rd MTB Flotilla and MTB 30, 4th MTB Flotilla in GB coastal waters, English Channel and during Dunkirk evacuation, 1940; commanded 5th, 6th and 9th MTB Flotillas in GB coastal waters, 1942; commanded 24th MTB Flotilla...
Connor, Frank (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-04-23
British marine served aboard HMS Exeter in Atlantic, 1936-1940; served aboard HMS Bonaventure in Mediterranean, 1940-1941 including sinking, 3/1941; served aboard HMS Orion in Mediterranean, 1941
Stevens, John Samuel (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-06-16
British officer served aboard submarine HMS Triumph off Norway, 1939; served as liaison officer with French submarine Circe in North Sea, 1939-1940; served aboard submarine H50 in North Sea, 1940; served with submarine HMS Thunderbolt in Atlantic, 1940-...
Mills, Ronald George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-10-03
British officer commanded submarine HMS Tetrarch off Norway and Mediterranean, 1940-1941
McCurrach, Rob Roy (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-04
British engine room artificer served aboard submarine HMS Unity in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1939-1940 including sinking, 4/1940; served aboard submarine HMS Utmost in GB coastal waters; served aboard submarine HMS Tigris in Atlantic and Arctic,...
Pook, William John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-12-18
British petty officer served as engine room artificer aboard submarine HMS Truant in North Sea, Mediterranean and Far East, 1939-1943
Irwin, Hugh Michael (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987
British officer served aboard HMS Lowestoft in North Sea and Atlantic, 1940-1941; served on shore duties with Bristol Channel Balloon Barrage in Barry, GB, 1941-1942; served aboard Q ship HMS City of Durban in North Sea, 1942; served aboard HMS Berwick...
Deacon, George William (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-06-23
British boy seaman and seaman served aboard HMS Ajax in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1938-1942
Fairbanks, Jr, Douglas Elton Ulman (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984-07-31
American officer served with Task Force 99, US Navy in Mediterranean and Arctic, 1942; served with Combined Operations in GB and English Channel, 1942-1943; served with US Navy coastal forces in Mediterranean, 1943-1945
Perkins, Donald (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-06-26
British seaman served as asdic operator aboard HMS Quantock in North Sea, 1940-1941; served aboard HMS Ithuriel in Mediterranean, 1942 including sinking 11/1942; officer served aboard HMS Ballinderry in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1943-1945