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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Transport in Changi, Singapore
(art) Made by: Thrale, Charles 1942
image: A team of bare-chested prisoners struggle to pull a wagon loaded with wood, just visible at the top of the page, along a track through the jungle. They are supervised by an officer walking alongside. In the background two military policemen salute...
War
(art) Made by: Yale, Brian 1967
image: A conceptual piece incorporating war imagery and geometric shapes. Towards the top is a large warhead style bomb, with stick-like men arranged horizontally underneath it. Geometric shapes are placed on the left, one of which is a square that...
Sleeve of camouflaged sniper suit
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Tudor-Hart, Percyval 1917
whole: A two-part left sleeve of sniper suit, hand-painted with a striped green, brown, blue, purple and yellow zig-zag camouflage pattern to all edges, except between the pleats at the cuff. The curved piece is the top of the sleeve and when it is fully...
Square sample of camouflage pattern
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Tudor-Hart, Percyval 1917
whole: A square piece of cotton gauze, hand-painted right up to the edges with a striped zig-zag camouflage pattern in greens, browns, blues and purples. The design is divided by parallel straight lines of alternating green and purple.
Rectangular sample of camouflage pattern
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Tudor-Hart, Percyval 1917
whole: A large rectangle of linen, hand-painted with a striped zig-zag camouflage pattern in green, brown, blue, purple, yellow and orange. The design is divided by parallel straight lines of harlequin-quartered alternating green and purple rectangles.
Camouflage sample
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Tudor-Hart, Percyval 1917
whole: A square piece of linen, hand-painted with a striped zig-zag camouflage pattern in greens, browns, blues, purples and reds. The pattern is divided by straight parallel lines of green and purple. There are colour notes written in pencil on certain...
Zito i Athanati EOKA kai o Archgos Aytis Leventogeros, Thrylikos Digenis
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1950
One of six handlettered posters of a similar character, see PST 9508 - PST 9513
Achyron Liopetrioy - Neon Chanin tis Gravias
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1950
One of six handlettered posters of a similar character, see PST 9508 - PST 9513
Molon Lave Apintisan ta 4 Atromita Pallikaria tis EOKA
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1950
One of six handlettered posters of a similar character, see PST 9508 - PST 9513
Zito ta Gennaia, Athanata Vlastaria, Fotis, Andreas, Chrestos kai Ilias
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1950
One of six handlettered posters of a similar character, see PST 9508 - PST 9513