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

Home Guards brewing Tea just before Dawn
(art) Made by: Ford, Michael 1941
image: Two Home Guards inside a small wooden hut, brewing tea by candlelight.
Snap into it - Men 18-19 1/2 - Home Defence
(posters) Made by: Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a blue background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in red cursive script. The subtitle is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in white, set against a green...
'Let 'em All Come' - Home Defence Battalions
(posters) Made by: Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist) 1939
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a green background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white outlined red cursive script. The subtitle and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in...
Let 'em All Come - Home Defence Battalions
(posters) Made by: Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist) 1940
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a green background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white outlined red cursive script. The subtitle and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in...
Gassed
(art) Made by: Sargent, John Singer (RA) 1919
image: A side on view of a line of soldiers being led along a duckboard by a medical orderly. Their eyes are bandaged as a result of exposure to gas and each man holds on to the shoulder of the man in front. One of the line has his leg raised in an...
'Stand To' Before Dawn
(art) Made by: Nash, John (RA) 1918
image: British infantrymen stand-to in a duckboarded trench. They lean against the parapet looking over the breastworks into No Man's Land, with their rifles beside them. There are two large puffs of smoke from artillery fire hanging in the dawn sky to...
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...
Women's War Services - An Exhibition
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-02
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in black and in red, set against a white background and held within a black border. image: text only. text: Copy as printed. For information only [ink stamp] WOMEN'S WAR SERVICES WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS...
Royal Flying Corps
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: three photographic images are positioned centre right, centre left and lower centre, each held within narrow black borders. A further image is positioned upper centre. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in blue outlined...
Sergeant R G Arding
(art) Made by: Kennington, Eric Henri (RA) 1941
image: a half-length portrait of an airman just back from a raid on enemy shipping. He stands in profile looking out to the right of the composition. He is wearing a white flying suit, with a shirt and tie underneath, and holds a leather helmet in his...