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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ARREST THAT RAT: THE WORK OF THE WOMEN'S LAND ARMY RAT CATCHERS, SUSSEX, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Land Girls Eileen Barry, Audrey Willis, Betty Long and Audrey Prickett enjoy a hot cup of tea after a hard day of rat catching, as part of their training on a Sussex farm. They are sitting on large cartwheels, whilst Farmer Giles brings them a jug of...
ARREST THAT RAT: THE WORK OF THE WOMEN'S LAND ARMY RAT CATCHERS, SUSSEX, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Land Girls Eileen Barry, Audrey Prickett and Betty Long watch as Major M Phillips demonstrates how to bait a trap as part of their training on a Sussex farm. The original caption describes how a trap is pre-baited with unpoisoned food for three days,...
ARREST THAT RAT: THE WORK OF THE WOMEN'S LAND ARMY RAT CATCHERS, SUSSEX, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Land Girls Audrey Prickett and Betty Long pre-bait a trap in a hay stack as part of their training at a Sussex farm. The trap is pre-baited with unpoisoned food for three days, which the rat will eat, it's confidence building, on the fourth day, the...
ARREST THAT RAT: THE WORK OF THE WOMEN'S LAND ARMY RAT CATCHERS, SUSSEX, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Farmer Tuppin explains the workings of a rat trap to Land Girl Margaret Wilson and her colleagues as part of their training on a Sussex farm. Margaret was a bus conductress in Yorkshire before joining the WLA.
ARREST THAT RAT: THE WORK OF THE WOMEN'S LAND ARMY RAT CATCHERS, SUSSEX, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Land Girls look intently on as Farmer Tuppin demonstrates how to place a baited trap in a rat run, as part of their training on a farm, somewhere in Sussex.
ARREST THAT RAT: THE WORK OF THE WOMEN'S LAND ARMY RAT CATCHERS, SUSSEX, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Major M Phillips addresses his 'troops', a team of Land Girls, before they commence battle against the rats which live in these pig styes, as part of their rat catcher training on this Sussex farm.
ARREST THAT RAT: THE WORK OF THE WOMEN'S LAND ARMY RAT CATCHERS, SUSSEX, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Land Girl Rat Catchers at work as part of their training on a Sussex farm. In the background Audrey Prickett and Betty Long plug a rat hole after inserting poison and in the foreground Eileen Barry lays some bait, as Audrey Willis leans over the hedge...
ARREST THAT RAT: THE WORK OF THE WOMEN'S LAND ARMY RAT CATCHERS, SUSSEX, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Betty Long lays rat poison in a rat hole beside a fence as part of her training on a farm in Sussex. The strong cyanide powder reacts when it comes into contact with the damp earth, producing a deadly gas which sweeps through the rat warren.
ARREST THAT RAT: THE WORK OF THE WOMEN'S LAND ARMY RAT CATCHERS, SUSSEX, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Farmer Tuppin leads a team of Land Girls into battle against rats on a sunny farm somewhere in Sussex.
ARREST THAT RAT: THE WORK OF THE WOMEN'S LAND ARMY RAT CATCHERS, SUSSEX, 1942
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Land Girls Eileen Barry (left) and Audrey Willis prepare rat poison as part of their training at a farm in Sussex.