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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AIRWOMAN [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Air Ministry (Production sponsor) 1941-06
An outline of the work of the Women's Air Force, in the framework of a bombing raid on Bremen.
THE FAVOURITES [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Air Ministry (Production company) 1960
Film impression of the training of an RAF cadet as an electronics technician.
THE LAST HAZARD [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Air Ministry (Production sponsor) 1944
The "Last Hazard" of the title is that faced by convoys approaching Britain in the shape of mines dropped in port approaches by German bombers. The film is a dramatised account of the two-part countermeasures provided in the shape of minesweepers and...
TOWARDS THE OFFENSIVE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Air Ministry (Production sponsor) 1943
After opening with a voice (probably US President Franklin D Roosevelt) promising imminent offensive operations, the film shows 'round the clock' preparations for the offensive, especially in the air.
BRITISH MOVIETONE NEWS ISSUE 694A (24 SEPTEMBER 1942) [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Air Ministry (Production sponsor) 1942-09-24
Newsreel, which is accompanied by an official film illustrating some of the instructions in the third booklet "Shelter at home", which explains how to turn a house into a "reasonably safe" shelter (see 'NOTES').
RAF on the Target Exhibition
(posters) Made by: Air Ministry (publisher/sponsor)
No description available
RAF - Exhibition of War Photos
(posters) Made by: Air Ministry (publisher/sponsor)
PST 4003 is a small format version
AIR OPERATIONS : scenes from TARGET FOR TONIGHT [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Air Ministry (Production sponsor) 1942
"The story of a raid on Germany - how it is planned and how it is executed. Each part is played by the actual man or woman who does the job."
VENTURE ADVENTURE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Air Ministry (Production sponsor) 1941-11
Outline of the preliminary RAF training made available to boys (14-17) through the Air Training Corps.
IN THE DRINK [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Air Ministry (Production sponsor) 1942
Film's main purpose is to show the survival equipment supplied for RAF bomber crews in the event of ditching.