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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Mrs Griffiths working at a Wireless and Telephone Factory, 1943
(art) Made by: Keeling, Pegaret 1943
image: A large woman in a flowery dress with a cigarette in her mouth sits on a high stool working at a drilling machine.
Machine-Milling Gun Parts, 1943
(art) Made by: Keeling, Pegaret 1943
image: a worker wearing overalls and spectacles leans forward as he operates a milling machine.
Steaming Uniforms
(art) Made by: Keeling, Pegaret 1943
image: two women wearing floral aprons stand on either side of a large steaming machine, holding some blue fabric. In the foreground there is a large pile of fabric waiting to be treated.
Finishers Working On Blue Greatcoats
(art) Made by: Keeling, Pegaret 1943
image: a group of women sit along either side of a long wooden table, sideways on to the viewer. They are all concentrating on sewing the blue greatcoats in their laps. The table in front of them is covered in pieces of fabric, sewing scissors and thread.
Finishers Working On Khaki Greatcoats
(art) Made by: Keeling, Pegaret 1943
image: a group of large women sit along either side of a long wooden table, sideways on to the viewer. They are all leaning over, looking down at the khaki great coats that they are finishing off on the table
Ministry of Information work permit 1944
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Keeling, Pegaret 1944
whole: artist's Ministry of Information work permit for Pegaret Keeling, dated 10 May 1944
Uniform Production
(art) Made by: Keeling, Pegaret 1943
image: in a wooden hut three machinists sit in a group on the left, sewing khaki jackets. There are several posters on the wall above them. On the right side of the room is a second group of women crouched on the floor next to a large pile of cloth,...
Machinists at Work
(art) Made by: Keeling, Pegaret 1943
image: two rows of women sit facing each other, seated at pedal-powered sewing machines on a long table in front of two large Georgian windows. The women are working on khaki uniforms and are surrounded by piles of khaki cloth. Finished garments lie on a...
Machinists at Work
(art) Made by: Keeling, Pegaret 1943
image: two rows of women sit facing each other, seated at pedal-powered sewing machines on a long table in a factory setting. The women are working on blue uniforms. There is a second table in the background and some parcels of blue fabric lie on the...
Pattern marking
(art) Made by: Keeling, Pegaret 1943
image: two tailors stand on either side of a work table. Both are leaning over marking up paper patterns with chalk on fabric. In the foreground there is a pile of folded fabric, a large pair of scissors and some paper patterns.