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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WITH BRITAIN'S MONSTER GUNS IN ACTION [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Topical Committee for War Films (Production company) 1918
Compilation film of heavy British guns on the Western Front, 1916-1918.
SCENES ON THE TRACK AROUND LIEVEN AIX AND NOULETTE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
Film taken from on board a moving light railway train in the British rear zones of the battlefield around Arras, Western Front, 1918.
SOUTH AFRICAN ARTILLERY IN ACTION [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
6-inch 26cwt howitzer of the South African Brigade in action, Western Front, probably 1918.
RAILWAYMEN IN FRANCE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
I. The BEF locomotive shop at Saint Etienne-du-Rouvroy, France, March 1918.
WOMEN'S ARMY IN FRANCE (completed version) [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) 1918
Compilation film of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in France, 1917-1918.
AMERICANS 3 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) 1918
Stockshots of US troops on the Western Front, probably 1918.
WITH THE NORTH AND SOUTH IRISH AT THE FRONT [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Topical Committee for War Films (Production company) 1918
Compilation showing Irish Guards, 16th (Irish) Division and 36th (Ulster) Division on the Western Front between late 1915 and the middle of 1917, and a Canadian battalion touring Ireland, 1917.
Swooping Down on a Taube Britain's Efforts and Ideals'; Making Aircraft
(art) Made by: FINE ART SOCIETY (publisher/sponsor) 1917
image: a British Royal Flying Corps biplane swoops down towards a German Taube aircraft. The British fighter is surrounded by an area of sunlight, diagonal beams of light creating a spectacular effect on the broken cloud in the sky.
PREPARING A BOMBING RAID [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
I. Preparations for a bombing raid by an RFC Squadron, Western Front, early 1918.
WAR OFFICE OFFICIAL TOPICAL BUDGET 362-1 (fragment) [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918-07-29
Incomplete newsreel devoted to a review of the British Empire's war effort 1914-1918.