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

SCENES ON THE TRACK AROUND LIEVEN AIX AND NOULETTE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
Film taken from on board a moving light railway train in the British rear zones of the battlefield around Arras, Western Front, 1918.
THE LIFE OF A WAAC [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) 1918
A recruiting film for the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in Britain, 1918.
ON THE ST QUENTIN FRONT [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
Unedited film of British forces and German prisoners in the north of the Saint Quentin sector, Western Front, early October 1918.
WRNS (ledger title) [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) 1918
Work by members of the Women's Royal Naval Service at a Royal Navy coastal torpedo boat base on the south coast of England, probably 1917 or 1918.
MESOPOTAMIA - INDIAN TROOPS BUILD A RAILWAY [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: International Film Service (Production company) 1918
Short film of Indian sappers laying a railway line, Mesopotamian Front, 1918.
AMERICANS 3 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) 1918
Stockshots of US troops on the Western Front, probably 1918.
PLUMER DECORATING WOMEN OF FANY AND VAD [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1917
General Sir Herbert Plumer, commanding Second Army, presents medals for bravery to FANY and VAD officers at Blendecques, Western Front, 3 July 1917.
ARRIVAL OF ITALIAN BAND AT BLACKPOOL [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) 1918
Fragmented film of a tour of an Italian Carabinieri band around Britain, autumn 1918.
OSTENDE (sic) [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
The liberation of Ostend, including scenes of the wreck of HMS Vindictive, Belgium, 20th October 1918.
ALLENBY MEETS WEIZMANN : Tel-el-Jelil, and Arsulf [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: Topical Film Company (Production company) 1918
Mixed film of British, Indian and Jewish forces, including the meeting of General Allenby with Chaim Weizmann in Jerusalem, Palestine Front, May 1918.