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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Study of Glass-blowers
(art) Made by: Peake, Mervyn 1943
image: a full length depiction of a glass blower at work, shown front-on. The man stands with the metal tube to his mouth, twisting the tube with both hands, the glass bulb at his feet glowing yellow and red. He stands within a reddish glow, the interior...
Study of Glass-blowers
(art) Made by: Peake, Mervyn 1943
image: a glass blower shown side-on, holding the metal tube to his mouth with both hands, the large glass bulb at the end glowing shades of yellow, orange and red. Behind him a three shadowy figures within the darkened factory.
Glass-blowers 'Gathering' from the Furnace
(art) Made by: Peake, Mervyn 1943
image: The interior of a glass factory, with three men dressed in white suits standing around a furnace. The figure in the foreground shows the action in which all three are involved. He holds a long, thin pole through a small hatchway into the furnace...
The Evolution of the Cathode Ray (Radiolocation) Tube
(art) Made by: Peake, Mervyn 1943
image: a factory floor filled with workers, some wearing protective masks, at various stages of the glass blowing process. Furnaces light up the lower right of the image.
Study of Glass-blowers
(art) Made by: Peake, Mervyn 1943
verso - slight pencil study of two heads
Study of Glass-blowers
(art) Made by: Peake, Mervyn 1943
verso - ink study with pencilled colour notes
Study of Glass-blowers
(art) Made by: Peake, Mervyn 1943
verso - pencil figure study of furnace stoker verso
Study of Glass-blowers
(art) Made by: Peake, Mervyn 1943
In 1943, Peake was commissioned to record work at a Birmingham glass factory making cathode ray oscillation tubes. Inspired by the dramatic qualities of the glassmaking process and the faces and balletic gestures of the glassblowers, he produced two oil...
Study of Glass-blowers
(art) Made by: Peake, Mervyn 1943
In 1943, Peake was commissioned to record work at a Birmingham glass factory making cathode ray oscillation tubes. Inspired by the dramatic qualities of the glassmaking process and the faces and balletic gestures of the glassblowers, he produced two oil...
Study of Glass-blowers
(art) Made by: Peake, Mervyn 1943
verso - slight head and shoulders pencil study