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

A Battery Shelled
(art) Made by: Lewis, Percy Wyndham 1919
image: Three officers stand to the left of the composition beside a pile of ammunition boxes. Each looks in a different direction. One has his back to the viewer and looks out over the scene of the painting. There are marionette-like figures moving over...
Study for 'Over The Top' (IWM ART 1656)
(art) Made by: Nash, John (RA) 1918
image: a squared up preparatory drawing for the oil painting 'Over the Top' (IWM ART 1656). On the left, a red earth trench lined with duckboards stretches away from the viewer. A group of soldiers clamber from the trench, going 'over the top'. Two lie...
During a Battle
(art) Made by: Roberts, William (RA) 1918
image: three British soldiers in yellow stand on a mound while a field gun pulled by horses moves past. A stretcher party bearing a figure in yellow walks out of the composition to the right and an infantryman of the Royal Scots Fusiliers stands guard in...
Gunners. Turning Out for an SOS. Battery action at night
(art) Made by: Roberts, William (RA) 1918
image: a group of gunners of the Royal Field Artillery hurriedly emerging from a dugout, still dressing as they run towards a battery firing into the distance. A Sergeant stands to the left of the composition, holding a torch in his hand shining down at...
Signallers
(art) Made by: Roberts, William (RA) 1918
image: a scene with six British signallers laying a wire in a trench. The two men in the centre appear to be shouting at one another, perhaps as a result of the noise of artillery fire, and the others look on, transfixed in their pose. A wounded man lies...
The Attack Begins in the Factory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, held within a yellow border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in black, set against a yellow background. image: a full-length depiction of a British infantryman...
It All Depends on You - Go to It!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is separate and placed along the top edge, in white and in black, held within a blue inset. The text is partially integrated and located in the lower right, in white, in black and in white outlined black...
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'...
Back Them Up!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower third, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: full-length depictions of a group of British infantrymen charging into battle...
Infantry - The Cutting Edge of the Battle
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1945
whole: the two images occupy the majority. The title is separate and located in the upper quarter, in red and in black. The text is partially integrated and placed in the lower left, in white, held within a black inset. All set against a white background...