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

Forward to Victory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
whole: a large image with the title placed separately below, in black. All set against a white background. image: a loosely rendered drawing of British RAF fighter pilots scrambling to awaiting Spitfires. text: FORWARD TO VICTORY
Today, Four-Fifths of the World is United Against Axis Tyranny
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
whole: the image occupies the upper two-thirds incorporating text. The main text is set below the image in black and orange-brown ovwer a plain white background image: a lone but resolute British sentry standing beside a barbed wire fence. text: TWO...
It All Depends on... Me
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
whole: narrow horizonal format with text and image intregated and set against a plain white background. image: five British factory employees face the viewer their hands linked and superimposed over a large red chain. The central figure is partially...
Keep Them Both Flying!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
whole: a large central image. Text is placed above and below the image, white within red horizonal bands. image: a raised Union Flag behind which flies a RAF Hawker Hurricane fighter. text: KEEP THEM BOTH FLYING! SPEED IS Vital!
Britain on the Offensive - Italian Air Losses
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941
whole: the image is positioned in the lower two-thirds. The title is separate and located along the top edge, in white, held within an orange inset. The subtitle and text are separate and located in the upper third, in black and orange. Further text is...
Back Them Up!
(posters) Made by: Krogman, W (artist) 1941
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a British Lockheed Hudson patrol bomber aircraft flying over...
Back Them Up!
(posters) Made by: Gardner, James (artist) 1941
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower third, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: three RAF Bristol Blemheim bombers bomb a large German powerstation. Clouds...
Don't Help the Enemy!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1939
whole: the image is positioned in the upper centre, with the title and text separate and placed in the lower three- quarters, in white. All set against a blue background. image: a plain white sovereign's crown. text: DON'T HELP THE ENEMY! CARELESS TALK...
Come Then - Let Us to the Task
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in red and black, set against a white background. All held within a decorative black border of stylised waves, featuring anchors, compasses and other nautical imagery. image: text only. text: COME THEN LET US...