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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Workers of the World Unite - Free All Irish Political Prisoners
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1973
whole: The image is positioned in the lower half of the design with text in white at the top and bottom. All is set against a red background. image: An illustration of Karl Marx and James Connolly, side by side. text: WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE FREE ALL...
Tufty Says Never Pick Things Up in the Street or Elsewhere
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1973
whole: the image occupies the bottom half of the whole, with title text in blue along the top edge and further text in black against a white panel in the centre. image: Tufty the squirrel gives a safety message to children. text: TUFTY SAYS Never pick...
Stop It!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1973
whole: the photo image fills the top half, with the title text in white across the centre, and further black text in a white box below. image: the badly bruised, swollen and bloodied face of a child is pictured in monochrome. text:Please...STOP IT!...
End Internment
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1972
whole: The image is placed in the centre of the design with text in black above and below. All is set against a brown background. image: A line of internees standing behind a chicken wire and barbed wire fence in an internment camp. text: northern...
After a Car Bomb Explosion - Ulster Village
(art) Made by: Maccabe, Gladys 1973
image: A group of civilians gather round the blackened remains of a car that has been bombed in a village in Northern Ireland. There is a line of houses in the background, some of which also appear to be bomb damaged.
To School via a Bomb Site, Belfast 1980
(art) Made by: Maccabe, Gladys 1980
image: A few women guide a group of children across bomb damaged and desolate ground in Belfast. A few intact buildings are visible in the background, along with a pair of factory chimneys.
Barricades, Belfast 1979
(art) Made by: Maccabe, Gladys 1979
image: A group of civilians gathers by a barricade that has been erected across a street in Belfast. There are buildings to the left and right.
Army Recruitment
(art) Made by: Walker, Ray 1981
image: A triptych of three equal-sized panels depicting British soldiers, British military insignia, military equipment and symbols. These include the insignia of the SAS and the Parachute Regiment, a Union Jack, and the symbol of the Ulster Volunteer...
Lest We Forget
(art) Made by: McCann, Kieran 1988
image: a view of a mural on the end of a building in Northern Ireland. The mural depicts an insignia that incorporates an image of William of Orange on horseback, the dates 1688 and 1690, and the Union and Ulster flags. Underneath this insignia are the...
Street Incident, Londonderry
(art) Made by: Maccabe, Gladys 1973
image: A crowd of civilians, including children, stand in a street overlooked by a British soldier, who stands in the immediate foreground to the left. There are houses in the background and to the left.