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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Handling a Balloon by Searchlight
(art) Made by: Noke, L
image: a few RAF personnel busy with the ropes attached to a large balloon, working under the light of a searchlight on the back of a truck on the right. A few trees, roofs and chimneys are visible in the background against the night sky.
Land Drainage: Overtime
(art) Made by: Casson, Bernard
image: a rural scene with women of the Women's Land Army working on land drainage. Four cranes are being used to create and maintain a series of drainage ditches filled with water. One of these cranes to the left has sunk into a water-logged patch of...
Forces Canteen
(art) Made by: Hudson, Eleanor Erlund 1942
image: two men in greatcoats, possibly airmen, relax in a canteen at a table, sideways on to the artist. One man is reading a book, while a black cat sits on the other's lap. In the background there are two other men, similarly dressed, deep in...
'Mosley Back in Gaol'
(art) Made by: Dodgson, John A 1943
image: A street demonstration. A large crowd of people advance towards the viewer. In the foreground a group of demonstrators hold up a cut-out coffin bearing the Nazi swastika inverse and a notice attached proclaiming; "Battersea citizens demand Mosley...
Fitting Tracks at the Pit Station
(art) Made by: Cuneo, Terence Tenison
image: a view of the interior of a factory where workers are fitting tracks to the main body of Churchill tanks. The tanks are arranged in a long line, surrounded by numerous busy workers, including a woman to the right.
The Water Test : a hull-immersion test for tanks
(art) Made by: Cuneo, Terence Tenison
image: outside a factory a Churchill tank is put through a hull immersion test, with it being driven down into a purpose- built water filled gully, a man standing alongside supervising. Another Churchill tank is driven towards the gully in the background.
Home Guard 1940
(art) Made by: Morse-Brown, Sydney 1940
image: a head and shoulder portrait of a bespectacled Home Guard soldier in uniform, turned to the right.
Gopsall Hall, 1944
(art) Made by: Hatts, Clifford [OBE, ARCA] 1944
image: a view of the facade of Gopsall Hall with trees on either side and two sheds erected on the lawn on the left. The place name is inscribed across the bottom right of the page.