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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Stop the War Coalition Poster Number 8 [War Kills]
(posters) Made by: Steadman, Ralph (artist) 2003
whole: The poster has a white background. Across the top of the sheet is a line of green type with a green and black circular logo in the upper right corner. The majority of the page is filled by the image. Below the image is a large line of black type...
No More Lies
(posters) Made by: Gentleman, David (artist) 2004
whole: The background of the poster is white. The sheet is filled by three bold, black words on separate lines. Replacing the two 'o's and the dot on the 'i' are large splatters of red. There are two more red patches either side of the third line of type...
Make Tea Not War
(posters) Made by: Stop the War Coalition (publisher/sponsor) 2004
whole: The sheet has a dark yellow background. The top half is occupied by two lines of black capitalised type. The majority of the lower half of the sheet is filled by a collaged image. In the lower right of the sheet is a circular logo and four lines...
Capitalism Kills! Kill Capitalism!
(souvenirs and ephemera) 2003
whole: The sticker is orange with three lines of black type in a graffiti-style font. image:text only text: 'Capitalism Kills! Kill Capitalism!'
Capitalism Kills! Kill Capitalism!
(souvenirs and ephemera) 2003
whole: The sticker is orange with three lines of black type in a graffiti-style font. image:text only text: 'Capitalism Kills! Kill Capitalism!'
Not In My Name
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Stop the War Coalition (publisher/sponsor) 2003
whole: A metal badge with a metal pin fastening, showing the logo of Stop the War Coalition with the text centred and printed in black on four lines over the image. The first and third lines are printed in bold. image: The logo of Stop The War Coalition...
Not In My Name
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Stop the War Coalition (publisher/sponsor) 2003
whole: A metal badge with a metal pin fastening, showing the logo of Stop the War Coalition with the text centred and printed in black on four lines over the image. The first and third lines are printed in bold. image: The logo of Stop The War Coalition...
Don't Attack Iraq
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Stop the War Coalition (publisher/sponsor) 2003
whole: A metal badge with a metal pin fastening, showing the logo of Stop the War Coalition with the text centred and printed in black on four lines over the image. The first and third lines are printed in bold. image: The logo of Stop The War Coalition...
End The Occupation of Iraq
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Stop the War Coalition (publisher/sponsor) 2003
whole: A metal badge with a plastic backing and safety pin fastening, showing the logo of Stop the War Coalition with the text centred and printed in black over the image. image: The logo of Stop The War Coalition: a white circle with a green outline...
End The Occupation of Iraq
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Stop the War Coalition (publisher/sponsor) 2003
whole: A metal badge with a plastic backing and safety pin fastening, showing the logo of Stop the War Coalition with the text centred and printed in black over the image. image: The logo of Stop The War Coalition: a white circle with a green outline...