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

We're in it Together
(posters) Made by: Henrion, Frederic Henri Kay (artist) 1943
whole: a photo-montage with the main image positioned left, smaller images occupying the right, and the title positioned along the bottom. image: large, partially coloured image of female telephonist on left. Positioned right four images of various...
Your Christmas Packets and Parcels
(posters) Made by: George Him & Jan Le Witt 'Lewitt-Him' (artist)
whole: the title is positioned above and below the central image, all set against a light blue background. image: a brown and white dog pushes a yellow trolley with its front paws from left to right. The trolley is laden with four parcels. text: YOUR...
Think Twice
(posters) Made by: George Him & Jan Le Witt 'Lewitt-Him' (artist)
whole: the main title is integrated into the image, running from the left foreground to the right mid-ground, forming a 'T' shape. The image bisects the title, with the subtitle positioned bottom right. image: two flattened, stylized figures, one yellow...
Think Ahead
(posters) Made by: George Him & Jan Le Witt 'Lewitt-Him' (artist) 1944
whole: the title and image are integrated, set against a black background and held within an irregular rectangular frame. image: two stylized heads, positioned at right angles to one another, with one writing and one thinking. A telegram and telephone...
Think Twice
(posters) Made by: George Him & Jan Le Witt 'Lewitt-Him' (artist)
whole: the main title is integrated into the image, running diagonally from the left foreground to the right midground, passing through a telephone image. image: two flattened, stylized figures, one yellow, one white. Both point to their heads and are...
Think Twice
(posters) Made by: George Him & Jan Le Witt 'Lewitt-Him' (artist)
whole: the title and image are integrated, set against a brick-red background, and held within an irregular rectangular frame. image: two stylised figures situated in a featureless landscape. Both point to their heads and are placed at right angles to...
Post Christmas letters by 20th December
(posters) Made by: George Him & Jan Le Witt 'Lewitt-Him' (artist)
whole: the title and image are integrated and set against a background merging yellow to brown. image: a calendar page showing '20 December', with the number in large green figures. A blue stamped envelope appears through a tear in the page. The calendar...
Be Brief
(posters) Made by: Man, Maurice (artist)
whole: the title is positioned at the centre, set against an airbrushed grey background. The image is placed to the left of the title. image: a raised grey telephone receiver with a red cord, facing left. text: BE BRIEF GPO Maurice Man. Printed for H.M....
Send Airgraphs
(posters) Made by: Sarg (artist)
whole: the image and text are integrated into the main body of the poster, with the subtitle across the bottom. image: a white hoarding extending from left background to right foreground. Two blue mail bags left. Airgraph form and microfilm in foreground...
Unseen but Unceasing
(posters) Made by: Sarg (artist)
whole: the main title extends from the lower left and is incorporated into a photo-montage image. image: photographic image of female telecommunications worker set within panel extending from background left to centre foreground. Line of telegraph wires...