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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AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN: LIFE ON GEORGE CASELY'S FARM, DEVON, ENGLAND, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
George Casely and his daughter Sylvia inspect the hay which will partly replace imported feed for their cows' winter diet.
AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN: LIFE ON GEORGE CASELY'S FARM, DEVON, ENGLAND, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Mrs Casely washes milk bottles for the local milk round (delivered by her Joan) in the sun outside the cow shed on her husband's farm in Devon.
AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN: LIFE ON GEORGE CASELY'S FARM, DEVON, ENGLAND, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Joan Casely tethers the cows before milking in the cow shed on her father's farm, somewhere in Devon.
DRAINAGE OF LAND: PREPARATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE, CLYST MARSHES, DEVON, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A Land Girl looks out of the doorway of the cab of the large drag-line excavator that is being used to create ditches to improve drainage along this stretch of land. The land will then be available for arable used and to graze animals. One of the women...
DRAINAGE OF LAND: PREPARATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE, CLYST MARSHES, DEVON, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Three drag line excavating machines are working on the scheme to drain this area of marshland in Devon in order to make it suitable for cultivation. Only one machine is visible in the photograph, the words 'Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Land...
DRAINAGE OF LAND: PREPARATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE, CLYST MARSHES, DEVON, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Two Land Girls stand in the doorway of the large drag-line excavator that is being used to create ditches to improve drainage along this stretch of land. The land will then be available for arable used and to graze animals. One of the women is pointing...
AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN: LIFE ON MOUNT BARTON FARM, DEVON, ENGLAND, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A farm worker loads hedge clippings into a tractor trailer with a pitchfork. Piles of clippings will be placed on the fields to be burnt and then will be raked into the soil. This will improve the fertility of the soil. This method of burning...
AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN: LIFE ON MOUNT BARTON FARM, DEVON, ENGLAND, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
George Blackler fills up a Fordson tractor with petrol at Mount Barton farm. The original caption states that although petrol must be used economically, it is not stinted when used for food production.
AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN: LIFE ON MOUNT BARTON FARM, DEVON, ENGLAND, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
George Blackler ploughs a field by tractor on Mount Barton farm. Behind him, a dog oversees the proceedings.
AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN: LIFE ON MOUNT BARTON FARM, DEVON, ENGLAND, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A farm worker cuts down hedges with a sickle on land surrounding Mount Barton farm. The hedges were previously used to shelter cattle, but as the land has been converted to arable use, they are no longer needed. The cuttings will be burnt to provide...