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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CHRISTMAS IN WARTIME, DECEMBER 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Mrs Devereux and her daughter Jean pull a Christmas cracker in front of their Christmas tree at their home in Pinner, Middlesex. Trooper Devereux, whose photograph can be seen on the Christmas tree, is serving in Italy and bought the tree as a present...
Private Papers of Miss W J Beer
(private papers) Made by: Beer, W J
Ms memoir (19pp), written in 2002, of her experiences as an evacuee in Salisbury (September 1939 - July 1941), as a student at Portsmouth Training College for Women Teachers (September 1941 - July 1943) and as a teacher in Portsmouth (August 1943 -...
Private Papers of P J Holloway
(private papers) Made by: Holloway, P J
Ts memoir (67pp), written in 2000, of his evacuation aged 4 with his 10 year old brother, from east London to Angmering-on-Sea, Sussex during the summer of 1939 then a brief period back in London during which the Blitz began, the family home was...
Private Papers of Miss V Bawtree
(private papers) Made by: Bawtree, V
Ts transcription of extracts from her diary (7pp), 1916 - 1919, containing interesting observations on Zeppelin raids on various parts of the country, Conscientious Objectors, wartime restrictions and her thoughts on the progress of the war, concluding...
Private Papers of Mrs J Hodges
(private papers) Made by: Hodges, J
Wordprocessed ts memoir (94pp) recording her service with the WRNS, February 1941 - 1946, including training at the Royal Naval College Greenwich; her rapid promotion to Master At Arms at the shore establishment HMS PEMBROKE III (August 1941); training...