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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Wanderings in Sussex and Further Afield
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1932
whole: the title and text are located in the upper two-thirds, in red and in black, partially held within a decorative border and placed within a white inset. All set against a black background, decorated with stylised natural imagery. image: text only....
Peace - The Practical Thank-Offering
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919-06
whole: the title is incorporated into a centrally positioned image. The subtitle and text are placed below in banner form. image: a dove, with a scroll in its beak, flies right to left over a globe, just the Northern Hemisphere visible. text: Scottish...
Savings Certificates will Remain on Sale
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919-06
whole: the title is arranged across the top, with the subtitle across the bottom, both in red. Further text is in black and red. All arranged within a black frame set against a white background. image: text only. text: SAVINGS CERTIFICATES WILL REMAIN ON...
The Fourteen Points
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919-02
whole: the title is arranged across the top with the subtitle below. Further text is arranged beneath. All text is dark blue set against a white background. image: text only. text: THE FOURTEEN POINTS WHAT ABOUT THAT CREDIT OF YOURS IN THE HANDS OF THE...
Savings Certificates
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1920-07
whole: the main title is arranged across the top, in blue. All further text and subtitles are in blue. All arranged in banner form within a blue frame against a white background. image: text only. text: SAVINGS CERTIFICATES AND ANGLO-FRENCH LOAN IN...
National Savings Certificates
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1922-07
whole: the title is arranged across the top, with the subtitle across the bottom, both in red. Further text is in black and red. All arranged within a black frame set against a white background. image: text only. text: NATIONAL SAVINGS CERTIFICATES...
Make a Habit of Buying
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919
whole: the main title is arranged across the top, in black. The subtitle is below in blue. Further text is in black and positioned in the lower half. All arranged in banner form within a frame of blue and white stripes. image: text only. text: Make a...
Make a Habit of Buying Regularly
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919
whole: the main title is arranged across the top, in white. The subtitle is below in orange. Further text is in white and orange, placed in the lower half. All arranged in banner form against a dark blue background and held within a frame of orange and...
Buy Savings Certificates
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1921
whole: the title is placed upper left, in black outlined red, with the text below in black, and the image far right. All set against a bright orange background and held within a green border which also contains the subtitle. image: a partially opened...
Anglo-French Loan in America
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1920-06
whole: the title is arranged across the top with the subtitle and text arranged below in banner form. All text is in dark blue, held within a dark blue border and set against a white background. image: text only. text: ANGLO-FRENCH LOAN IN AMERICA...