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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Plan Your Future - Save With a Plan
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945
whole: the six images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in green. The main text is partially integrated and placed with each image as a caption, in red held within white insets, and separate and located in...
Plan Your Future - Save With a Plan
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945
whole: the six images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in black. The main text is partially integrated and placed with each image as a caption, in red held within white insets, and separate and located in...
The Army Education Scheme
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole. The title and text are integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, in yellow. All set against a dark blue and light blue background. image: a depiction of a sword standing upright on its tip which is formed into...
'Ware Sharks - Take Care of Your Gratuity
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is integrated and positioned in the lower centre, in white and in red. The text is integrated and placed in the upper centre, in black held within a white inset, and across the bottom edge, in black. All...
Army Education Scheme - Home Health - Arts and Crafts
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title and text are separate and located in the lower fifth, in white and in black, set against a blue background. Further text is integrated and positioned in the upper fifth, in black. image:...
Army Education Scheme - Commerce - Man and Society
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title and text are separate and located in the lower fifth, in white and in black, set against a green background. Further text is integrated and positioned in the upper fifth, in black. image...
Army Education Scheme - Engineering - General Science
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title and text are separate and located in the lower fifth, in white and in black, set against a red background. Further text is integrated and positioned in the upper fifth, in black. image: a...
Start Off on the Right Foot for 'Civvy Street'
(posters) Made by: Freeth, Thomas (artist) 1945-09
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths, mainly held within a black and red border. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in red with black shadowing. The text is separate and placed across the top edge, in black...
Your Release Can Be Delayed With V.D!
(posters) Made by: Hopper, Stacey
whole: the image is placed in the centre of the design with text in the top left and bottom right, in blue and orange. All is set against a plain white background. image: a hat, a pair of gloves and a cane, representing the return to civilian clothes...
Wot! Not Saving?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945-10
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds. The title and text are separate and located in the upper quarter and in the lower half, in white, held within a red inset, in blue, in red and in black. All set against a white background. image: a...