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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Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa, VC : 4th Indian Division
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1943
image: An officer is seated on a chair in a tent in the desert. Three other officers are sat at his feet listening intently to what he is instructing them to do.
A Barrage Balloon, Green Lanes, Finsbury Park 1939
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1939
image: a barrage balloon floating above some tents and a vehicle in a park with a row of houses in the background.
Shore Leave; Ratings returning aboard at Freetown 'Convoy' series, 1941 - 1942
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1941
image: Ratings queue outside a building at a harbour. Natives gather on the jetty. In the background are the buildings of a coastal town.
The M.O.'s Launch taking off Hospital Cases 'Convoy' series, 1941 - 1942
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1941
image: Officers take injured troops to the mainland in a lighter. In the background is the ship from which they have recently disembarked.
Our First Glimpse of the Desert near Suez 'Convoy' series, 1941 - 1942
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: Through a network of rigging a sailor looks towards a mountainous coastline. A light anti-aircraft gun facing the sky is immediately to his right and four ships lie in the water before the coastline.
Hospital Ships off Aden 'Convoy' series, 1941 - 1942
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: A coastal landscape; a rocky, undulating mainland in the distance with hospital ships sailing in the sea in the foreground.
Balloons and Scavenger Kites off Aden 'Convoy' series, 1941 - 1942
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: A coastal landscape; rocky, undulating hills forming the backdrop for a coastal town. In the foreground, small passenger and fishing vessels sail in the sea.
The Neptune Ceremony; crossing the Line 'Convoy' series, 1941 - 1942
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1941
image: The crowded deck of a ship, all watching the events of the Neptune Ceremony. On the right is Neptune and men are being pushed into the swimming pool as a penalty.
Alice Delysia gives a Concert Aboard a Fighting-French Warship
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: A small room on a warship crowded with sailors listening to a concert given by a woman in uniform.
A Parade of Druze Cavalry at Soueida, Jebel Druze
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: A desolate, desert scene. Two rows of Arab horsemen are lined up playing a musical accompaniment to the parade on the left.