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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AUGUST OFFENSIVE 1 (?) [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
British rough material of the Battle of Amiens, Western Front, August 1918.
AUGUST OFFENSIVE (related material) [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
British tanks preparing to go into action during the Advance to Victory, Western Front, summer 1918.
GERMAN OFFENSIVE 5 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
British troops in the Arras area, behind the lines, Western Front, 30 March 1918.
OUR WONDERFUL TANKS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
Whippet, Mark V, Mark V Star, Recovery and Mark II Gun Carrier tanks demonstrating their performances, probably at the Tank Corps Central Stores at Erin, Western Front, October 1918.
HM THE KING'S VISIT TO THE TANK SCHOOL, WOOL, DORSET [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Woods-Taylor, G (Production individual) 1918
George V's inspection of the Tank School at Bovington Camp in Dorset, 25th October 1918.
THE KING'S VISIT TO FRANCE AUGUST 1918 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
Patchy review of King George V's visit to the Western Front, August 1918.
COLONIAL PRESSMEN [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) 1918
Unedited British record of leading journalists of the Dominions of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa visiting the British zone of the Western Front, September 1918.
TRAINING THE TANKS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918-07
Compilation piece from other films on the British use of the tank in the First World War.
WAR OFFICE OFFICIAL TOPICAL BUDGET 376-2 (fragment) [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918-11-07
I. Newsreel item on the visit of Prince Yorihito of Higashi-Fushimi to the Grand Fleet in the Firth of Forth, October 1918.