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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Collections search

Battle Honours
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. Twelve smaller images are placed along the left edge, set against a light blue background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white. The text is separate and...
Back Them Up!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters, held within a yellow border. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower third, in black, and set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a group of British 'Commando'...
To the Attack!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters, held within a yellow border. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower third, in black, and set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a group of British 'Commando'...
[Persian text] [The Downfall of the Dictators is Assured]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters, held within a yellow border. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower third, in black, and set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a group of British 'Commando'...
[Arabic text] [The Downfall of the Dictators is Assured]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters, held within a yellow border. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower third, in black, and set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a group of British 'Commando'...
La Chute des Dictateurs est Assuree [The Downfall of the Dictators is Assured]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters, held within a yellow border. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower third, in black, and set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a group of British 'Commando'...
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....
Ole Jonsen : Norwegian Forces
(art) Made by: Lamb, Henry (MC) (RA) 1942
image: A half-length portrait of Ole Jonsen wearing flying gear and a helmet leaning forward on a desk with his arms crossed.
Europäische Keilerei 1914 [European Brawling 1914]
(posters) Made by: Linge (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within a narrow black border. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is integrated and positioned lower left, in black. All set against a white background. image: a map of...
Europa's Zukunftskarte [Europe’s Future Map]
(posters) Made by: Lupus (artist)
whole: the two images occupy the majority, with one image positioned on the reverse, and are held within narrow black borders. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge centre, in black gothic script. The text is integrated and positioned...