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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AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
American forces leaving Britain: Air Transport Command speeds United States Eighth Army Air Force on its way to Japan via the United States. The happy United States airmen are seen in the back of a truck at an ATC Base in Wales.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
American military police with a British policeman during the Second World War.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
United States troops arrive in England: members of the US Signal Corps enjoy coffee and doughnuts served by the Red Cross on a train which is carrying them to their base after their arrival in Britain.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
Black GIs in Britain: An exception to the general rule, a mixed team of black and white United States soldiers play American football.
AMERICANS DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
An American nurse, 2nd Lieutenant Helen Powrentowski of 1132 Richmond Avenue, Carnegie, New York, kneels to pray at a shrine, taken at the end of a Catholic Mission week, probably somewhere in Britain.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
Arriving: Americans en route to Northern Ireland. US soldiers and Army nurses are shown on the deck of the ship bringing them to Britain.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
Women in the United States Forces in Britain: United States Army nurses arrive in England. Helmeted, wearing full field dress and carrying their kit and one day's K rations, US nurses leave their transport ship in England after crossing the Atlantic.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
Women in the United States Forces in Britain: United States WACs (Women's Army Corps) checking in at the gate of an airbase headquarters somewhere in England.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
The United States Army in Britain: Final preparations for D Day. Beneath the prophetic lettering on the canvas of his tent ('This is it' and 'Worry here'), Private Clyde N Dunkle from Pennsylvania cleans his Springfield rifle.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
The United States Army Air Force in Britain: The crew of "Ragin Red", a United States heavy bomber which had been carrying out dawn to dusk raids on German targets in France, sorting out their kit after landing.