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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Our Work Will Help Decide
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image occupies the majority, with a series of smaller images positioned around the edge of the poster as a border. The title is separate and placed across the top edge, in red, set against a yellow background. The main text is separate...
United Nations War Poster Exhibition
(posters) Made by: Rotter (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The UNIO emblem is located in the lower left. The title is partially integrated and placed in the upper quarter, in blue outlined light blue, in red and in white. The text is partially integrated and located in the...
Mesopotamia Day
(posters) Made by: Dickson, D J A (artist) 1917
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title separate and positioned across the top, in red outlined purple. Further text is separate and positioned in the upper quarter and lower quarter, in purple. All set against a white background. image:...
Church Army - Open to all
(posters) Made by: Holloway, Edgar A (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper centre, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the centre, also in black. Further text is integrated and positioned in the upper left, in black. All set...
The Story of the RAAF
(posters) Made by: Adams, Dennis (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned in the upper centre, centre and lower centre, surrounded with 14 smaller images, mainly placed down the right and left edges. The title is separate and located in the upper left, in black. The main text is separate and...
Baghdad: An Illustration of Iraqi Policemen's Uniforms
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1943
image: A rooftop terrace surrounded by railings. A uniformed policeman in khaki with a forage cap marked with a star stand in the centre of the image, facing left. On the left side of the image, facing the first man, another policeman wearing a beige...
Baghdad: An Illustration of Iraqi Policemen's Uniforms
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1943
image: A uniformed Iraqi policeman stands facing the viewer with his hand resting on a railing. He is standing on a rooftop terrace with palm trees in the background. Just behind him another policeman stands leaning with both hands on the railing,...
A Woman's Head, Mesopotamia
(art) Made by: Cain, Charles William 1918
image: a half length portrait of a woman in traditional Middle Eastern dress, her full face visible. She wears a flowing deep blue robe with headdress in the same colour.
A Woman's Head, Mesopotamia
(art) Made by: Cain, Charles William 1918
image: a half length portrait of a woman in traditional Middle Eastern dress, her full face visible. She looks directly at the viewer and is dressed in a flowing white robe and headdress.
A Woman's Head, Mesopotamia
(art) Made by: Cain, Charles William 1918
image: a half length portrait of a woman in traditional Middle Eastern dress, her full face visible. She wears a deep blue head scarf and headdress with a green checked shirt or dress.