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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TYNESIDE STORY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hughes, Ken (Production individual) 1943
A dramatised account, with actors from a local theatre company, of the reopening for war production of the Tyneside shipbuilding yards closed down by the Depression.
MAXIMUM EFFORT [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hughes, Ken (Production individual) 1944
An attempt to show the human background to the RAF by concentrating on the mixed Commonwealth (4 New Zealand, 2 English, 1 Canadian) crew of a Lancaster during a raid over Germany.
WOMEN AWAY FROM HOME [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hankinson, Michael (Production individual) 1942-09
Some of the problems inherent in the conscription of women for factory work, in the form of three case histories.
LIFT YOUR HEAD, COMRADE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hankinson, Michael (Production individual) 1942-12
A study of one of fifteen alien companies in the Pioneer Corps.
DIG FOR VICTORY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Anstey, Edgar (Production individual) 1941-10
An appeal to the public to grow vegetables.
CLYDE-BUILT [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hughes, Ken (Production individual) 1943-09
Shipbuilding on the Clyde.
ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hankinson, Michael (Production individual) 1941-12
The functions of the Royal Observer Corps, a voluntary civilian organisation founded in 1925 and called by the commentary “the eyes of the air force.”
THE FREE FRENCH NAVY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hughes, Ken (Production individual) 1942-05
A tribute to the units of the French Navy which remained on the Allied side after the French Defeat.
CANTEEN COMMAND [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hankinson, Michael (Production individual) 1943-11
Survey of the services provided by NAAFI.
BAILEY BRIDGE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Barnes, Arthur (Production individual) 1944
A brief introduction to the mechanical principles and techniques involved in the Royal Engineers' main bridging equipment.