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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GERMAN OFFENSIVE 8 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
British forces in the Villers Bretonneux and Béthune areas, Western Front, about 8-10 April 1918.
GERMAN OFFENSIVE 12 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
British forces in the Amiens area, and possibly further north, Western Front, in the last week of April 1918.
GERMAN OFFENSIVE 9 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
British 51st and 55th Divisions in the Béthune area, Western Front, about 10-14 April 1918.
GERMAN OFFENSIVE 10 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
British troops on the La Bassée Canal and the Mont des Cats area, and the funeral of Manfred von Richthofen ('the Red Baron') at Bertangles, all Western Front, mid-April 1918.
GERMAN OFFENSIVE 11 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
British and French forces in the Mont des Cats-Cassel area, Second Army sector, Western Front, about 21 April 1918.
WAR OFFICE OFFICIAL TOPICAL BUDGET 354-1 (fragment) [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918-06-03
I. Newsreel item on British floating guns on the Piave River, Italian Front, May 1918.
WAR OFFICE OFFICIAL TOPICAL BUDGET 354-1 (French version, fragment) [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918-06-03
I. French language version of a newsreel item on General Sir Neville Lyttelton reviewing Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, on its Foundation Day, 1st June 1918.