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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WEST INDIANS IN BRITAIN DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information official photographer
West Indian women serving in Britain: A tea party for twenty-eight ATS women from the West Indies held at the Colonial Office by the Duke of Devonshire, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. Photograph shows: A group at the party,...
WEST INDIANS IN BRITAIN DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information official photographer
West Indian women serving in Britain: Garden party of West Indian ATS: Women working in one of Britain's ordnance depots attend a party given in their honour by members of the WVS and the British Legion Women's Section at Bicester. Private Jackman, from...
ARMY POST OFFICE IN THE MIDLANDS, ENGLAND, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division official photographer
A member of staff at the Army Post Office, 'somewhere in the Midlands', repacks parcels which have either been badly packed or have broken their wrappings in transit. Whenever possible, the parcels are sent on to the addressee or are returned to the...
DEMOBILISATION OF BRITISH ARMY PERSONNEL IN 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division official photographer
Sign over the main entrance of No 4 Military Dispersal Unit, Regent's Park Barracks, London.
ARMY POST OFFICE IN THE MIDLANDS, ENGLAND, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division official photographer
Women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) sort air mail letter cards at the Army Post Office, 'somewhere in the Midlands' in 1944. Air mail letter cards were the most popular form of correspondence at this time, with over 3 million being sent...
GRENADIER GUARDSMEN BUILD EMERGENCY HOUSING IN WINDSOR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division official photographer
Sergeant Whyte looks on as a guardsman finishes off the brickwork to complete the first nissen hut style temporary house built by the Grenadier Guards at Windsor.
GRENADIER GUARDSMEN BUILD EMERGENCY HOUSING IN WINDSOR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division official photographer
Guardsmen laying the first courses of brick to form the foundations of a nissen hut style temporary house.
ARMY POST OFFICE IN THE MIDLANDS, ENGLAND, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division official photographer
Staff at the Army Post Office 'somewhere in the Midlands' work on the card index of two million casualties that is maintained there. This index enabled letters for prisoners to be sent to the Red Cross for delivery, and enabled letters for wounded...
ARMY POST OFFICE IN THE MIDLANDS, ENGLAND, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division official photographer
Parcels and packets are sorted by hand by women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) at the Army Post Office, 'somewhere in the Midlands'. Many of the parcels contain local newspapers which are sent by relatives to servicemen overseas to keep them...
An AA Battery : River Medway
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA) 1943
image: a view looking down on several anti-aircraft guns, including two Bofors guns, in gun emplacements with a few soldiers moving around in between the maze of walls in the battery. The battery is positioned on the coast with the sea and a small dock...