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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recording
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2002
British civilian served with Metropolitan Police in London, 1936-1942; officer served as flight engineer with 625 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1944-1945; POW in Germany, 1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Gift (Production company) 1943-06-20
British officer served with 617 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1943; address to 1st Tovil Scout Troop in Tovil, Kent, on occasion of being made a Rover Scout
Bring Back My Bomber And Me
(sound) Made by: Richard Carson Morton (Production company) 2004
Compilation of songs entitled 'Bring Back My Bomber And Me': twenty-first century cover versions of Second World War songs 'Bring Back My Bomber And Me' and 'A Young Aviator Lay Dying'. Performed by The Dodecaphonics
recording
(sound) Made by: Graham, Stanley (Production company) 1978-07-26
British private served as signalman with Royal Signal Corps in GB, India, Burma and Ceylon, 1940-1945.
recording
(sound) Made by: Graham, Stanley (Production company) 1978-08-29
British NCO served with Royal Artillery in GB and East Africa, 1940-1945.
recording
(sound) Made by: NWSA (Production company) 1975-05-17
British civilian worked at Steeton ordnance factory,Yorkshire and as bus driver for POWs in Lancashire and Yorkshire, 1939-1945.
recording
(sound) Made by: Graham, Stanley (Production company) 1978-11-30
British civilian served with Home Guard in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, 1940-1945.
recording
(sound) Made by: Woolard, Joan and Duncan (Production company) 2002
British civilian labourer in Lincolnshire 1939-1943; served as Hygeine and Sanitation NCO with Royal Army Medical Corps, North West Europe, 1944-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Woolard, Joan and Duncan (Production company) 2002
British civilian schoolchild living in Kent, 1939-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Woolard, Joan and Duncan (Production company) 2002
British NCO served with 6th Air Landing Bde, 6th Airborne Div, North West Europe, 1944-1945. Served in Palestine and Austria post-1945