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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HMS Fearless
(art) Made by: PEARS, CHARLES 1918
image: The Royal Navy Active class scout cruiser HMS Fearless, painted in a dazzle camouflage scheme, at sail with another ship in the distance and a buoy in the water towards the foreground. She is shown starboard side on.
HMS King George V at Sea: with a destroyer, December 1940
(art) Made by: Bone, Muirhead 1940-12-01
image: a view of the Royal Navy battleship HMS King George V at sea, with a destroyer also visible on the water.
HMS Hawkins
(art) Made by: Bone, Stephen
image: Side view of a camouflaged destroyer at sea.
HMS Argus
(art) Made by: Bone, Stephen
image: Side view of a HMS Argus at sunset.
On Board a Trawler : the Wardroom door
(art) Made by: Bone, Stephen
image: a view through a doorway, looking out on to the deck of a trawler with a stormy sea in the background. In the foreground a row of rifles are mounted on the wall.
HMS Mauritius : Bathing July 1944
(art) Made by: Bone, Stephen 1944-07-01
image: two officers watch as the sailors swim and dive into the sea. There is land in the distance and several other boats moored nearby.
Mined, 1918
(art) Made by: Allfree, Geoffrey Stephen 1918
image: a merchant ship run aground and listing to starboard, with a hole with water gushing from it visible on her port side from where the ship has hit a mine. The sky is heavily overcast.
The Ward Room : "HMS Southern Star"
(art) Made by: Bone, Stephen
image: a view through a doorway, looking out on to the deck of a trawler with a ship on the horizon. In the foreground a row of rifles are mounted on the wall next to a coat on a coat hook.
4 Inch Gun on Asdic Trawler, HMS Southern Star
(art) Made by: Bone, Stephen
image: a manned gun emplacement on a trawler. Two men are loading the gun while two others are looking out to sea. An officer is facing the other way with a pair of binoculars. There is a hilly coastline in the background.
HMS Truant
(art) Made by: Bone, Stephen 1942
image: two sailors stand on the deck of HMS Truant which is only partially visible. In the distance there is a fishing boat at anchor and a small island on the horizon.