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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Interior of a Steelworks
(art) Made by: Ensor, Arthur John 1942
image: A vast industrial space filled with railways cars and stacks of sheet steel. A red glow comes from behind the railway cars. Near the ceiling there is a pulley system crossing the room connected to a balcony on which two workers stand.
An Oil Well in the Midlands from the Geologist's Laboratory, 1944
(art) Made by: Ensor, Arthur John 1942
image: A view of landscape through a window. In the foreground there is a table with a microscope, test tubes and other scientific equipment. Through the window is a view of a rural landscape in the rain. Dotted throughout the fields are several oil...
The Mill : manufacturing steel sheet
(art) Made by: Ensor, Arthur John 1942
image: A long conveyor belt inside a mill on which there is a strip of red-hot sheet steel. At the far end of the conveyor belt is a furnace out of which there are large clouds of smoke billowing. A single factory worker stands next to the machinery,...
Tapping the Furnaces at a Steelworks
(art) Made by: Ensor, Arthur John 1942
image: A enormous industrial space with several large containers dotted around. Tracks run along the floor on the right room, past the furnace which is emitting a red glow and clouds of smoke. There are several workers gathered near the entrance to the...
Oilfields in the Midlands, 1944
(art) Made by: Ensor, Arthur John 1944
image: A field with a track running through it containing a low building on the left and two oil wells. There is a third well behind some trees at the far end of the field.
The New Oilfields in the Midlands, 1944
(art) Made by: Ensor, Arthur John
image: A landscape with three oil wells in the distance. In the foreground is a circular brick structure holding a piece of machinery made from piping with a large dial attached.
AA Guns as Coastal Defence
(art) Made by: Ensor, Arthur John 1944
image: This appears to be two drawings, one above the other, showing lines of soldiers manning field guns on the edge of costal cliffs.
Oil-drillers preparing to Change the Drilling Head
(art) Made by: Ensor, Arthur John 1944
image: Two workers attach a pulley to a circular object on a platform. they are surrounded by ladders, ropes and scaffolding.
The Anti-robot Gun Belt on the Romney Marshes
(art) Made by: Ensor, Arthur John 1944
image: A flat landscape with anti-aircraft guns positioned over the fields. In the corner is a small group of military tents.
Learning her Job at a Steelworks
(art) Made by: Ensor, Arthur John 1942
image: A woman and a man stand with their backs to the viewer, facing a large control panel, covered in levers and buttons. They are on a platform, high above the floor of the steel works, which spreads out below them. Both are watching some workers on...