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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WALES - GREEN MOUNTAIN, BLACK MOUNTAIN [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Mathieson, Muir (Production individual) 1942
An impressionistic survey, scripted by Dylan Thomas, of Wales at war.
BREATHING SPACE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Shaw, Alexander (Production individual) 1943-09
Documentary which shows some of the spare-time activities of service personnel and civilians during the war.
CEMA [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Dickinson, Desmond (Production individual) 1942
A documentary released in September 1942 about the precursor to the Arts Council, the wartime Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (CEMA), featuring an introduction by education minister R A Butler, an art exhibition in a factory and live...
POST 23 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Tasto, Charles R (Production individual) 1941
A portrait of a 'typical' ARP wardens' post and of its predominantly volunteer staff.
CITIZEN'S ARMY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Tasto, Charles R (Production individual) 1940
The basic duties and training of the Home Guard.
COALMINER [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Strand (Production company) 1943-09
An impression of the world of Charles Jones, a miner in the Rhondda Valley.
THE STORY OF THE ARMY BUREAU OF CURRENT AFFAIRS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Riley, Ronald H (Production individual) 1943
An outline of the development and function of ABCA as a Weapon of War.
WARTIME FACTORY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Anstey, Edgar (Production individual) 1940
Documentary portrays the improved welfare enjoyed in wartime by men and women workers at a typical aircraft factory, and the precautions taken against enemy attack.
SEA CADETS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Rhind, Al (Production individual) 1941-07
Semi-dramatised film about the activities of the Navy League's Sea Cadets.
HOME GUARD [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Strand (Production company) 1941
A Home Guard officer in a village pub talks to his friends about his week at a Home Guard training school.