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

MALTA CONVOY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1944
A dramatic eye-witness account by Royal Navy Commander Anthony Kimmins of Operation 'Pedestal' (10 - 15 August 1942), the Royal Navy's bold and ambitious attempt to resupply the besieged island of Malta that narrowly succeeded in achieving its object...
ALERT IN THE EAST [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1941-09
A survey of the strategic situation of the British Empire in the Far East in the face of "an outside" threat (obviously Japan).
RAISING SOLDIERS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1940-02
The early training of Army recruits: ostensibly an information film, but with an obvious recruiting intention as well.
HM NAVIES GO TO SEA [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1941
A view of the Empire's Navies, in peace and war, designed to emphasise their size and power, worldwide distribution, and fighting character (in explicit contrast to Axis navies).
THE KING'S MEN [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1940-09
A collection of film of King George VI with the members of his armed forces in the early months of the Second World War.
COASTAL DEFENCE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1940
The rôle of the three forces in the wartime defence of Britain's coastline.
CHINESE MISSION TO BRITAIN [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1944
Film record of the activities of a Chinese mission to Britain in 1944.
ARMS FROM SCRAP [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1942-02
An appeal for scrap metal.
ONE MAN TWO JOBS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1944-04
The training and duties of the Home Guard at a fairly late stage in the war.
SKY GIANT [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1942
A tribute to the Avro Lancaster as "the most powerful and efficient bomber in the world, and one of the most important war-winning weapons in the UN".