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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Six sketches of civilian and military subjects
(art) Made by: Ginger, Phyllis 1941
image: a woman wearing a uniform and an apron pours tea at a counter covered in crockery and a tea urn. Next to her a Canadian soldier leans against the counter, drinking a cup of tea
Six sketches of civilian and military subjects
(art) Made by: Ginger, Phyllis 1941
image: a full-length portrait of a soldier with his pack, helmet and rifle, shown from behind
Six sketches of civilian and military subjects
(art) Made by: Ginger, Phyllis 1941
image: a Scottish NCO wearing a kilt stands next to two other soldiers who are drinking tea while watching him.
Six sketches of civilian and military subjects
(art) Made by: Ginger, Phyllis 1941
image: two soldiers watch a large lady wearing a hat pass by.
Six sketches of civilian and military subjects
(art) Made by: Ginger, Phyllis 1941
image: two soldiers stand together drinking cups of tea, looking out to the right.
Six sketches of civilian and military subjects
(art) Made by: Ginger, Phyllis 1941
image: two sketches of an officer in a greatcoat and cap, holding a note book and a third sketch of a soldier with a rucksack and kit bag at his feet, smoking a pipe.
Sketch of Civilian and Military Subjects
(art) Made by: Ginger, Phyllis
image: sketches of civilians and military personnel gathering in groups, talking, sitting around a table, walking along the street and having their shoes shined.
Sketch of Home Guard Subjects
(art) Made by: Ginger, Phyllis
image: studies of several standing home guard subjects in uniform and helmets.
Sketch of Home Guard Subjects
(art) Made by: Ginger, Phyllis
image: studies of several standing home guard subjects wearing uniforms and helmets, standing on guard, holding rifles with bayonets.
Preparatory drawings for Wedgwood plate series and one other drawing
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Ginger, Phyllis
whole: 17 preparatory sketches for Wedgwood plate series, including general schemes and individual details; one preparatory sketch for IWM ART 17309; one sketch of trumpeters of the Royal Artillery