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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Collections search

Artists and Craftworkers for Peace - Exhibition
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1984
No description available
Who Are the New Faces
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1973
No description available
Every Man -There's a Vacant Place for You My Lad!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-05
PST 7707 is the master copy of a variant with different text PST 12077 is the master copy of a similar design with a variant image and text PST 12083 is the master copy of a similar design with a variant image and more variant text
Braggins' Great Clearance Sale
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916
No description available
Art and Architecture of Egypt - No 4
(posters) Made by: Leacroft, Richard (artist) 1945-05
Pictorial Review No 14 Art and Architecture of Egypt No 4
Art and Architecture of Egypt - No 3
(posters) Made by: Leacroft, Richard (artist) 1945-04
Pictorial Review No 10 Art and Architecture of Egypt No 3
Art and Architecture of Egypt - No 2
(posters) Made by: Leacroft, Richard (artist) 1945-03
Pictorial Review No 6 Art and Architecture of Egypt No 2
Art and Architecture of Egypt - No 1
(posters) Made by: Leacroft, Richard (artist) 1945-02
Pictorial Review No 2 Art and Architecture of Egypt No 1
Men of Essex 'Fall In'
(posters) Made by: Breffit, Vernon (artist) 1915
No description available
Will They Never Come?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914
whole: title in red italic lettering above a photomontage image reproduced inside a black box, with further red lettering below. image: In a snow or mud filled landscape a wounded soldier stands, holding his rifle, beside his dead comrade. To his right a...