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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MESOPOTAMIA - EXAMPLES OF ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: International Film Service (Production company) 1918
Ancient ruins, including Babylon and Ctesiphon, in Mesopotamia, 1918.
BRITISH GENERALS IN MESOPOTAMIA AND PALESTINE 1918 [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: International Film Service (Production company) 1918
Portrait shots of British generals of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force and of General Sir Edmund Allenby, 1918.
HMS MOTH AND HMS CADDIS FLY (?) [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: International Film Service (Production company) 1918
The gunboats HMS Moth and HMS Caddis Fly (?) on the River Tigris and the River Euphrates, Mesopotamian Front, 1918.
MESOPOTAMIA - INDIAN TROOPS BUILD A RAILWAY [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: International Film Service (Production company) 1918
Short film of Indian sappers laying a railway line, Mesopotamian Front, 1918.
MESOPOTAMIA - BABYLON AND BAGHDAD [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: International Film Service (Production company) 1918
The ruins of Babylon and the town of Baghdad under British occupation, 1918 (?).
KURKUCH [Main Title]
(film) Made by: International Film Service (Production company) 1918
The award of decorations to British and Indian soldiers in Kurkuch, Mesopotamian Front, 7-11 May 1918.
MESOPOTAMIA - DIYALA RIVER, KIFRIE ROAD, TUZ KERMATLI (sic) [Main Title]
(film) Made by: International Film Service (Production company) 1918
British and Indian troops on the Mesopotamian Front, April 1918.
WITH THE FORCES IN MESOPOTAMIA - SERIES 4 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: International Film Service (Production company) 1918
Jumbled material of British troops on the Mesopotamian Front, 1917-1918.
MESOPOTAMIA - BAGHDAD AND RIVER SCENES [Main Title]
(film) Made by: International Film Service (Production company) 1918
Everyday life in Mesopotamia under the British occupation, 1918.
WITH THE FORCES IN MESOPOTAMIA - SERIES 6 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: International Film Service (Production company) 1918
British film of the inhabitants of the River Tigris shoreline from Basra to Kut al Amara, mostly filmed from a moving boat, 1918 (?).