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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Bardell, Samuel Valentine (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-06-20
British NCO served as clerk with in France, 1940 including sinking of HMT Lancastria; served with General Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, 1940-1945 including role as Secretary to Forces Parliament, 1943-1944
Frend, William Hugh Clifford (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985
British officer served with Political Warfare Executive in GB, North Africa and Italy, 1942-1945
Grindlay, Lillian Irene (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-12-09
British civilian wife of NCO with 1st Bn Seaforth Highlanders in Hong Kong and Shanghai, China, 1938-1941; evacuated from Shanghai, China to Brisbane Australia, 1941
Clegg, Emmeline R 'Lena' (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-11-25
British civilian teacher with St John’s University in Shanghai, China, 1930-1941; internee in Ash Camp, Shanghai, China, 1942-1945; teacher with St John’s University and Fu Tan University in Shanghai, China, 1945-1954
Stein, Burton (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-01-02
American private served with 111th Regt, US Army in Pacific, 1945
Hargreaves, Edgar Charles Stewart (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1981-11-23
British officer served with Special Operations Executive attached to Chetnik forces in Yugoslavia, 1942-1943; POW in Belgrade, 1943; inmate in Buchenwald concentration camp, 1943-1944; POW in Maerisch-Truebau and Oflag IV C, Colditz, Germany, 1944-1945
Henrion, Frederic Henri Kay (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-11-25
German artist worked for Ministry of Information on poster and exhibition designs in GB, 1941-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC Radio Kent (Production company) 1990
British civilian farm worker served with Home Guard and Auxiliary Units in Ashford area, Kent 1940-1944
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC Radio Kent (Production company) 1990
British civilian farmer served with Home Guard Auxiliary Units in Romney Marsh, Kent 1940-1944
recording
(sound) Made by: Child, Anthony (Production company) 1962-02-11
German civilian in Germany, 1939-1945. Emigrated to GB