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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Collections search

Private Papers of Miss D M F Byrne
(private papers) Made by: Byrne, D M F
Ms journal (39pp) kept by a member of the Women's Land Army January 1944 - December 1945 (with non contemporary alterations and marginalia) recording her farming activities on the Surrey/Sussex border, her daily routine and off duty recreation with good...
Private Papers of Mrs B Tessaro
(private papers) Made by: Tessaro, B
Word processed collection (59pp) of short memoirs compiled by her to celebrate the 50th reunion of the members of the Women's Land Army based at Nower Lodge, Dorking, Surrey between 1941 and 1946, including details of their duties, entertainment, the...
Private Papers of Mrs P J K McDowell
(private papers) Made by: McDowell, P J K
Brief word-processed account (12pp) of her service with the Women's Land Army (1941 - 1946) on various farms in Kent, including good comments about poor living conditions and the often hostile attitude of male farmworkers towards land girls.
Private Papers of Mrs M E Chifney
(private papers) Made by: Chifney, M E
Photocopy of her ms reminiscences (4pp) of her life as a Land Girl 1940 - 1945 based firstly in Leicestershire and later on a farm in Kent with references to living and working conditions, and her tractor driving and milkround; also a vivid account (3pp...
Private Papers of Miss M Bird
(private papers) Made by: Bird, M
Photocopy of an ms account (8pp) of her experiences (written in the form of a letter to the IWM) as a member of the Women's Land Army 1944 - 1947 (?), covering her enrolment and first posting to Thropton hostel near Rathbury, Northumberland with good...
Private Papers of Mrs M Dennis
(private papers) Made by: Dennis, M
Ts account (3pp) of her experiences as a member of the Women's Land Army, 1942 - 47, covering her enrolment, her first job on a farm near Hull, Yorkshire, where she did the milking, helped with the sheep and was employed on field work;in 1945 she...
Private Papers of Miss B J Fisher
(private papers) Made by: Fisher, B J
Ts account (4pp) of her life as a young girl during the Second World War with useful descriptions of Croydon during the Blitz where she worked as a hairdresser prior to joining the Women's Land Army in 1942 and being employed on gang work in East Sussex...
Private Papers of Miss M Tetlow
(private papers) Made by: Tetlow, M
25 ms letters written during her service as a member of the Women's Land Army at RAF Catterick, Yorkshire, May - October 1943 and at Ripon Hostel November 1943 - January 1944 with good descriptions of her life as a Land Girl, her accommodation and off-...
Private Papers of Mrs M C Matthew
(private papers) Made by: Matthew, M C
Ts memoir (20pp) of her experiences as a member of the Women's Land Army 1942 - 1946 on farms near Sherborne, Dorset; near Yeovil, Somerset; near Saltford, Bristol; and at Pensford, near Bristol, where she was employed mainly as a general farmworker and...
Private Papers of Mrs H Lightfoot
(private papers) Made by: Lightfoot, H
Carbon ts account (6pp) composed circa 1943 and ms notes (4pp) on her life as a member of the Women's Land Army, 1940 - 1944, covering her enrolment and arrival at her first post on a mixed farm near Malton, Yorkshire where she did general agricultural...