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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A Tank Worker from Nigeria
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image occupies the majority, with a smaller image placed in the lower left, held within a blue circular inset. The title and text are separate and positioned in the lower fifth, in black. All set against a white background and held within a...
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...
Victory in the West
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945
whole: the 12 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in white, held within an orange inset. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, in white held within orange insets, in orange and...
The War Told for You in Pictures
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941-10-02
whole: the 14 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and placed in the upper centre and beneath each image as a caption, also in black. All set against a white background....
The War in Pictures
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942-03-25
whole: the 14 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in green. The text is separate and placed in the upper centre and beneath each image as a caption, also in green. All set against a white background....
Back Them Up!
(posters) Made by: Stone, Marc (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters. The title is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in black, set against a white background. image: a depiction of four British infantryman running towards a group of surrendering German...
Libya - Help Them Finish the Job
(posters) Made by: Stone, Marc (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters. The title is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in black, set against a white background. image: a depiction of four British infantryman running towards a group of surrendering German...
La Chute des Dictateurs est Assuree [The Downfall of the Dictators is Assured]
(posters) Made by: Pym, Harold
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and located in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of four British infantrymen operating an anti-tank gun under a...
[Arabic text] [The Downfall of the Dictators is Assured]
(posters) Made by: Pym, Harold
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and located in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of four British infantrymen operating an anti-tank gun under a...
[Persian text] [The Downfall of the Dictators is Assured]
(posters) Made by: Pym, Harold
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and located in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of four British infantrymen operating an anti-tank gun under a...