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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WAR AND ORDER [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Gamlin, Lionel (Production cast) 1940-10
The rôle of the police in wartime, emphasising the giving of aid to civilians, particularly during air raids.
THE CHANNEL ISLANDS 1940-1945 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Bryant, Gerard (Production individual) 1945
"Incidents dealing with the German Occupation are re-enacted by the Channel Islanders themselves."
BEFORE THE RAID [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Cameron, Ken (Production individual) 1943
Story of how some Norwegian fishermen outwitted the Nazis occupying their village, told by a Norwegian commando to English colleagues on a ship bound for Norway.
SPRING OFFENSIVE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Cameron, Ken (Production individual) 1940-10
A Suffolk example shows how the Government used County Committees to coordinate farmers, and to organise the ploughing of maximum acreage to ease the wartime food situation.
WE SAIL AT MIDNIGHT [Main Title]
(film) Made by: National Film Board of Canada (Production sponsor) 1943
Drama-documentary demonstrating the way Lease-Lend helps to keep the British war machine working.
MERCHANT SEAMEN [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Cameron, Ken (Production individual) 1941-06
A story acted and narrated by men of the Merchant Navy illustrates the way their war is fought.
JUNGLE MARINERS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Royal Marines (Production sponsor) 1946
Re-enactment of a jungle patrol by Royal Marine Commandos in the final stages of the 1942-1945 Burma campaign.
HEALTH IN WAR [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Cameron, Ken (Production individual) 1940-11
Takes the opportunity of a simple explanation of the wartime changes in public health policy to make some mild propaganda.
ATLANTIC TRAWLER [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Cameron, Ken (Production individual) 1944-10
The life of trawlermen in wartime, the normal discomforts and dangers of the work increased both by enemy action and by the loss of good ships and good men to the Navy.
THIS WAS JAPAN [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Trench, Terry (Production individual) 1945-09
Asking "who were these Japanese and how had they become the ruthless conquerors of half the world," the film answers itself with a survey of Japanese history in terms of a bitter indictment of militarism.