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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THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Navy official photographer
Fifi, the working elephant at RNAS Puttalam, Ceylon, tows a petrol bowser into position during refueling of Fleet Air Arm aircraft. A Fairey Swordfish, the Navy's oldest operational aircraft in 1944, is on the right. Chance Vought Corsairs, one of the...
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Navy official photographer
A Grumman Wildcat fighter being winched aboard HMS EMPRESS at Norfolk, Virginia, USA during landing trials.
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Navy official photographer
Sikorsky IV helicopters of the British Naval Air Arm being used for instructional purposes at Floyd Bennett, New York, where Naval pilots are under instruction. One of the helicopters is just a couple of feet off the ground whilst the other looks to be...
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Navy official photographer
Lieutenant B H Dinsmore of Indiana, Pennsylvania, instructing British Fleet Air Arm cadets in a classroom at their Primary Training Station in Bunker Hill, Indiana, America.
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Navy official photographer
Formation photograph of six British Naval Airmen in training over the Maine countryside. They are flying American built Chance-Vought Corsairs, with British markings. These pilots will soon leave Lewiston where they are training and proceed to Norfolk...
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Navy official photographer
A helicopter attached to the British Naval Air Arm (marked with the letter A), demonstrating how it could be used in a confined space and how it is possible to almost converse with the pilots while the machine hovers overhead, at Floyd Bennett airfield,...
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Navy official photographer
British and American cadets walk out to their machines at Bunker Hill, Indiana, where they start off training together as pilots for the naval air arm of both the British and American navies. A row of Boeing Stearman Kaydet training aircraft can just be...
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Coote, R G G (Lt)
Fairey Fireflies (1771 Squadron), Fairey Barracudas (828 Squadron), and Supermarine Seafires (880 Squadron) of the Fleet Air Arm on the flight deck of HMS IMPLACABLE warming up ready to make strike on enemy shipping at the entrance to Alten Fjord, Norway.
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Navy official photographer
Whilst the armourer ratings unload its guns, a group assembles round a crashed Grumman Hellcat of 804 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm as it hangs over the edge of the ship, to decide how it should be removed to clear the deck on board HMS AMEER. The photograph...
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Navy official photographer
A large group of men helping to clear a crashed Grumman Hellcat of 804 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm from the flight deck of the Escort Carrier HMS AMEER whilst others look on. This photograph was taken during the eleven days of action in the course of the...