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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OVER HERE: AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
23 year old Lieutenant Ronald E Miller is from Mount Morris, Illinois. Here he zips up his leather flying jacket against the snow at his base, somewhere in the North of England.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
British Land Army girls and members of the Women's Royal Air Force (WAAF) dance with men of the US Eighth Army Air Force in Suffolk during 1943.
WOMEN ON THE HOME FRONT 1939 - 1945
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Clark (F/O)
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF): A WAAF Code and Cypher officer instructing two American sergeants, at the United States Army Air Force base at Bovingdon.
THE HOME FRONT IN BRITAIN 1939-1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information official photographer
Lieutenant James F Gaylor of the 8th United States Army Air Force, talking to the Master of University College, Oxford, Sir William Beveridge. Lieutenant Gaylor, a fighter pilot from Texas, was in hospital at Oxford after his eardrums were injured in a...
THE HOME FRONT IN BRITAIN 1939-1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR COLOUR TRANSPARENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information official photographer
Lieutenant James F Gaylor of the 8th United States Army Air Force, talking to the Master of University College, Oxford, Sir William Beveridge. Lieutenant Gaylor, a fighter pilot from Texas, was in hospital at Oxford after his eardrums were injured in a...
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs)
The United States Air Force in Britain: Groundcrewmen of the United States Eighth Army Air Force Fighter Command changing propellers on a twin-engined Lightning aircraft at a United States airbase in Britain.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
The United States Army Air Force in Britain: The crew of "Ragin Red", a United States heavy bomber which had been carrying out dawn to dusk raids on German targets in France, sorting out their kit after landing.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
Off Duty: Sunday Service at a United States Ninth Air Force base: members of a fighter unit using a tent hangar for their place of worship.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs)
Off Duty: A row of United States Eighth Air Force personnel seated in deckchairs and enjoying bottles of Coke outside the Red Cross Club in Prestwick, Scotland, prior to their return to the USA.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Boyer Richard
Leaving: Men of the United States Eighth Air Force Ground Echelon preparing to leave England. Photograph shows the men packing clothes which will be shipped to a depot for reprocessing. In the background is a B-17 Flying Fortress also being prepared to...