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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Hammerton, Ian Charles (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-08-01
British officer served with 22nd Dragoons, 79th Armoured Div in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945
Hill, James (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-12-17
British officer served with Royal Air Force Film and Photographic Unit in GB, 1940-1943; POW in Germany, 1943-1945
Griscti, Elizabeth Agres (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-06-15
Dutch civilian in Netherlands, 1940; internee in Schoorl Internment Camp, Netherlands and Liebenau Internment Camp, Germany, 1940-1942; member of Dutch Resistance in Netherlands, 1942-1944
Cheeney, William Herbert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-01-23
British seaman served as mechanic with Coastal Forces in GB, 1942-1943; served with Combined Operations in GB, during Normandy landings and North West Europe, 1943-1944
Grandia-Smits, Jonkje (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984-12
Dutch civilian member of resistance in Netherlands, 1940-1944; inmate of Ravensbrück and Dachau camps, 1944-1945
Brook, Robin (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-06-06
British intelligence officer served as Director of Western Europe in GB and Europe with with SO2, Special Operations Executive in GB, 1942-1945; representative to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force 1944-1945
Reitsma, Henri Robert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-06-18
Dutch officer served aboard coastguard vessel, Royal Netherlands Navy in Netherlands, 1940; served aboard submarine O24 in North Sea, Mediterranean and Far East, 1940-1944; served with Royal Netherlands Navy in Dutch East Indies, 1947-1949
Stanier, Alexander Beville Gibbons (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1983-09-21
British officer served with 1st Bn Welsh Guards on Western Front, 1918. Commanded 2nd Bn Welsh Guards in North West Europe, 1940; evacuated from Boulogne, 5/1940
Barwell, Eric Gordon (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2001-01-20
British officer served as pilot with 264 Sqdn, RAF over Dunkirk, France and during Battle of Britain, 1940; served with 125 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1941-1944; served as staff officer in North West Europe, 1944-1945
Donnelly, John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company)
British trooper served with 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB, 1939; served with 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB, 1939-1940; served with 1st Royal Gloucestershire Hussars in GB, 1940-1941; trooper and NCO served with 1st Royal Tank Regt in North...