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

Mightier Yet!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
whole: a centrally positioned photographic image, with the title is placed above in large blue type. Further text is located below the image, white against a blue background. image: a monochrome photograph of seven RAF Hawker Huricanes fighters flying in...
Forward to Victory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
whole: a large image with the title placed separately below, in black. All set against a white background. image: a loosely rendered drawing of British RAF fighter pilots scrambling to awaiting Spitfires. text: FORWARD TO VICTORY
Today, Four-Fifths of the World is United Against Axis Tyranny
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
whole: the image occupies the upper two-thirds incorporating text. The main text is set below the image in black and orange-brown ovwer a plain white background image: a lone but resolute British sentry standing beside a barbed wire fence. text: TWO...
It All Depends on... Me
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
whole: narrow horizonal format with text and image intregated and set against a plain white background. image: five British factory employees face the viewer their hands linked and superimposed over a large red chain. The central figure is partially...
Keep Them Both Flying!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
whole: a large central image. Text is placed above and below the image, white within red horizonal bands. image: a raised Union Flag behind which flies a RAF Hawker Hurricane fighter. text: KEEP THEM BOTH FLYING! SPEED IS Vital!
Britain on the Offensive - Italian Air Losses
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941
whole: the image is positioned in the lower two-thirds. The title is separate and located along the top edge, in white, held within an orange inset. The subtitle and text are separate and located in the upper third, in black and orange. Further text is...
They Come from the U.S.A.
(posters) Made by: Pick, Beverley (artist) 1942
whole: the image occupies the majority, with a smaller image positioned in the upper right. The images are partially set against a black and blue, horizontally striped background. The title is separate and placed along the top edge right, in black, held...
Joe Potocki
(posters) Made by: Pick, Beverley (artist) 1944
whole: the main image occupies the right two-thirds, with a smaller image positioned in the upper left. The title is separate and placed in the centre left, in black. The text is separate and occupies the lower left, in red. The title and text are set...
Back Them Up!
(posters) Made by: F A A (artist) 1940
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in blue. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a British warship at sea firing her guns. Two more warships are visible...
'Duff'
(art) Made by: Brangwyn, Frank (artist) 1917
image: Below decks on board ship, a group of youths in naval rating uniform sit at a wooden table. In the foreground two boys sit on a bench, their backs to the viewer, holding a pudding bowl and spoon at the ready. An older sailor approaches from the...