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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NIGHT SHIFT [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Paul Rotha Productions (Production company) 1942-05
The story of a single night-shift at a factory producing guns for tanks (No 11 Royal Ordnance Factory, Newport, Wales ).
DANGER AREA [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Mathieson, Muir (Production individual) 1943-10
An impression of work in a Royal Ordnance munitions plant, in the framework of a dramatised incident.
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.
DUSTBIN PARADE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Meyer, Ernst H (Production individual) 1942-10
A Halas and Batchelor cartoon on the need for scrap.
RADIO IN BATTLE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Shell (Production company) 1943-06
Demonstration of the importance of radio communications in "modern" warfare.
WAR ON WHEELS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: World Wide Pictures (Production company) 1944
A prolonged lesson in the need for tyre-economy in the war situation, and in procedures to prolong the life of tyres during use and to ensure their usefulness for salvage or retreading at the end.
BIRTH OF A TANK [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hankinson, Michael (Production individual) 1942-06
Construction of Valentine tanks; the film's purpose is to explain the value of planned sub-contracting, precisely carried out, and it follows production from a small part of a shock absorber to completed tanks, the commentary explaining each process.
MOBILE ENGINEERS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Tasto, Charles R (Production individual) 1942-03
Explains by use of a 'case history' the work of National Industry Mobile Squads, volunteer teams of skilled workers who are sent on specific missions to help start or speed up production.
ARMS FROM SCRAP [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1942-02
An appeal for scrap metal.
SALVAGE WITH A SMILE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Brunel, Adrian (Production individual) 1940-08
A comedy framework used to convey an appeal for salvage.