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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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.
Music - The Mosaic of the Air
(posters) Made by: T M (artist) 1946-06
whole: the eight images occupy the majority. The title is partially integrated and positioned in the upper fifth, in black outlined white, and in black, held within a decorative blue inset. The text is separate and placed at the centre and upper centre,...
CEMA Canteen Concert, Isle of Dogs, London, E14, 1941
(art) Made by: Rowntree, Kenneth 1941
image: The interior of a large room, filled with people seated around tables. In the foreground there is a table stacked with plates, behind which stands a woman wearing an apron.
Ladies Emergency Committee of the Navy League
(posters) Made by: Leddie, P (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned across the top edge, in blue. The text is integrated and positioned lower left and across the bottom, in blue. All set against a white background. image: a German nurse pours a...
Mauritians Serving in the British Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the 12 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in black. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, also in black. The coat of arms of Mauritius is located at the top edge centre....
[Vegetables to Grow] July-Aug
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
One of a set of six bimonthly posters on growing vegetables, see PST 20656-PST 20661
[Vegetables to Grow] Sep-Oct
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
One of a set of six bimonthly posters on growing vegetables, see PST 20656-PST 20661
[Vegetables to Grow] Nov-Dec
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
One of a set of six bimonthly posters on growing vegetables, see PST 20656-PST 20661
[Vegetables to Grow] Mar-Apr
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
One of a set of six bimonthly posters on growing vegetables, see PST 20656-PST 20661
[Vegetables to Grow] Jan-Feb
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
One of a set of six bimonthly posters on growing vegetables, see PST 20656-PST 20661