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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HALL, CHARLES (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-03-03
British private served with Welch Regt in GB, 1940-1941; NCO served with Royal Corps of Signals in India and Burma, 1941-1945
MacKenzie, Colin Hercules (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-10-21
British officer head of Force 136, Special Operations Executive in Far East, 1941-1945
Davis, John Lewis Haycroft (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-01-29
British civilian worked with Malayan Police Force in Malaya 1931-1941. Served with Oriental Mission, India Mission and with Force 136, Special Operations Executive in Malaya, Ceylon and India 1941-1945; recruited and trained Chinese resistance to...
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...
Joyce, Benjamin (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984-06-12
Indian NCO served as postmaster with Field Post Office, Indian Army in Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia, 1940-1941
Cree, Gerald Hilary (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984-06-29
British officer served as staff officer with 11th (African) Div in Kenya, Somaliland and Ethiopia, 1940-1941
IWM interview
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984-07-24
British civil servant in Malaya. Served with Force 136 in Malaya and India, 1942-1945, recruited and trained Chinese Resistance to Japanese in Malaya. Worked for British Military Administration and Foreign Office in Malaya and Singapore, 1945-1958.
Kember, William George Victor (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-03-06
British private and NCO served with Royal Army Service Corps in GB and Iceland, 1939-1943; officer served with Royal Army Service Corps attached to Headquarters, 12th Corps in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945
Gill, Arthur Murland (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-03-04
British officer served as pilot with 84 Sqdn in Sumatra, 1/1942 and in India and Burma, 3/1942-11/1944
Champion Jones, Montagu (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987
British officer served with Royal Engineers in GB and India, 1922-1937; served with Railway Establishment Movement Control Royal Engineers and at GHQ British Expeditionary Force in France, 1939-1940; captured at Abbeville, France, 1940 and POW in Ilag...