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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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...
Help the West Indies to Work for Victory - Sugar Plantation Workers
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half bordered by a grey line. Red text is placed underneath. All is set against a plain white background. image: three West Indian sugar plantation workers cutting sugar cane in a field, with one other worker...
Help the West Indies to Work for Victory - Bauxite Miners
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half bordered by a grey line. Brown text is placed underneath. All is set against a plain white background. image: male West Indian Bauxite miners at work in a quarry. Two workers are digging in the foreground...
Colonies Exhibition
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor)
whole: the image is occupies the upper three-quarters. The title is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in red and in yellow held within a black inset. The text is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black and in red. A blank text...
Visit the Colonies Exhibition
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title is integrated and placed in the upper two-thirds, in black and in white outlined black, held within a white scroll design. The main text is integrated and located in the lower left, in...
Exhibition - Meet Canada
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor)
whole: the image occupies the upper third. The title is partially integrated and positioned in the lower two-thirds, in white and in yellow. The text is separate and located in the lower quarter, in red, partially held within a white inset. The title and...
Your 'Spitfires' in Action - Thank You, Leeward Islands!
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor)
whole: black text is positioned at the top. Four square framed images are placed underneath in two columns of two. Beneath each image are a few lines of text in black. Further text in black is located at the bottom with a circular logo in the bottom...
Together
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor) 1939
whole: the image fills the majority of the design, with text, in yellow, contained within a black horizontal band at the bottom. All is surrounded by a plain white border. image: a group of seven British empire military personnel in uniform. From left to...