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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Collections search

TWELVE DAYS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Merton Park Studios (Production company) 1942-09
During the war farmers were obliged to give at least 12 days notice of their intention to sell livestock for meat; this film explains the apparently unduly long delay by indicating the amount of administrative work involved in interpreting the resulting...
BEHIND THE GUNS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Merton Park Studios (Production company) 1940-07
As implied by the title, a film about the "army without uniform" of industrial workers vital to the war effort, stressing the importance of the "constant offensive on this battlefront".
FURNACES OF INDUSTRY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Rogers, J (Production individual) 1940-11
Steel production in Britain.
DOMESTIC HELP FOR HOSPITALS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Merton Park Studios (Production company) 1944
Second World War British Ministry of Information animated cartoon newsreel trailer stressing the continued need for domestic workers in hospitals
FEED THE FURNACES [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Merton Park Studios (Production company) 1940-09
The need for scrap metal - one third of Britain's steel needs can be met from scrap.
DOWN OUR STREET [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Sagovsky, V (Production individual) 1942-06
An appeal for the establishment of street savings groups.
ALBERT'S SAVINGS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Holloway, Stanley (Production cast) 1940-08
A homily on the duty to save, in the guise of one of the "Albert" rhyming monologues, recited by Stanley Holloway.
FOOD FROM THE EMPIRE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Merton Park Studios (Production company) 1940
Film showing the food contributions supplied to Britain by various colonies and dominions.
PACIFIC THRUST [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Merton Park Studios (Production company) 1945
Largely based on the use of maps, the film is a brief statement of the war situation in the Far East, explaining the particular problems of fighting in the Pacific and strategic concepts designed to solve them.
COME ON, GIRLS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Merton Park Studios (Production company) 1944
Second World War British Ministry of Information newsreel trailer encouraging young women to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS).