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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An Appeal by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of London
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-01
whole: the title is positioned in the upper third, in red, with the text below occupying the remainder, in black. The crest of the Lord Mayor of London is positioned at the top. image: text only. text: AN APPEAL BY THE RT. HON. THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON...
Vivat St Quentin
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: German Red Cross (publisher/sponsor) 1914
whole: A green ribbon with a design printed in black. The image and text are framed by a black rectangle. Four lines of text are positioned in the upper portion of the border. The image occupies the remaining portion. Below the image is a separate box...
Pale Armistice
(art) Made by: Hawksley, Rozanne 1991-11-01
whole: a funeral wreath made from overlapping white mens and womens gloves. There is a posy of artificial funeral flowers attached on the bottom right. In amongst the flowers are bleached bones. The gloves are hand sewn onto a metal shape, that has been...
Order No 111 - SS Camswan [Starboard]
(art) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917
whole: a schematic drawing for Dazzle camouflage, featuring a hand-drawn and hand-painted starboard view of a Merchant Navy steam ship. An unpainted superstructure detail is placed in the upper right. All text is hand-lettered. image: a starboard view of...
Order No 111 - SS Camswan [Port]
(art) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917
whole: a schematic drawing for Dazzle camouflage, featuring a hand-drawn and hand-painted port view of a Merchant Navy steam ship. All text is hand-lettered. image: a port view of the Merchant Navy ship SS Camswan.
Order No 281X - SS Lothbury [Port]
(art) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917
whole: a schematic drawing for Dazzle camouflage, featuring a hand-drawn and hand-painted port view of a Merchant Navy steam ship. There are four painted superstructure details and a painted bow detail placed above the main design. All text is hand-...
Order No 281X - SS Lothbury [Starboard]
(art) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917
whole: a schematic drawing for Dazzle camouflage, featuring a hand-drawn and hand-painted starboard view of a Merchant Navy steam ship. A painted stern detail and one painted superstructure detail are placed above the main design. All text is hand-...