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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Collections search

We're in it Together
(posters) Made by: Henrion, Frederic Henri Kay (artist) 1943
whole: a photo-montage with the main image positioned left, smaller images occupying the right, and the title positioned along the bottom. image: large, partially coloured image of female telephonist on left. Positioned right four images of various...
MERELY TO REMIND YOU THAT.......TIME FLIES
(posters) Made by: Fougasse
whole: the image is positioned in the centre of the design with text in black above and below. The whole is bordered with a red line, all set against a white background. image: two workers in blue overalls drinking tea are surprised by the vision of a...
Women of Britain - Come into the Factories
(posters) Made by: Zec, Philip 1941
whole: the image fills the upper three-quarters of the design. A black band, which fades at the edges and incorporates text in white and orange, is positioned at the bottom. All is set against a plain white background. image: a three-quarter length...
You Never Know Who's Listening - Careless Talk Costs Lives
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor) 1942
image: A cartoon of two women sitting on a bus having a conversation, overheard by Himmler and Goering sitting in the seat behind. text: You never know who's listening! - CARELESS TALK COSTS LIVES
Diphtheria Costs Lives - Immunisation Costs Nothing
(posters) Made by: Mount, Reginald (artist) 1943
whole: the image fills the upper half, with white text integrated within it at the top set against a dark green background. At the bottom there is text in red and black. All is set against a plain white background. image: the black shadow of an open hand...
Better Pot Luck Than Humble Pie - Don't Waste Food!
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: The images are positioned in the upper left and lower right, with text in black and red incorporated above, between, below and alongside the two images. image: In the upper half a caricature of the head of Churchill as a lidded casserole,...
Spot at Sight Chart Number One - Enemy Uniforms
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941
whole: text, in orange and black, is positioned at the top, with the two images underneath. Below each image is a black box containing orange text. All is set against a plain white background with a grey border line. image: two figures dressed in full...