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

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...
The Menin Road
(art) Made by: Roberts, William (RA) 1917
image: a view down the Menin Road in the Ypres sector of the Western Front. Two small columns of British troops march along the road, the foremost comprised of men of the Royal Field Artillery. Two ambulance trucks drive ahead of them. Alongside the road...
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...
German Cruelty to British Prisoners
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-06
whole: the title is placed across the top in red set, with the text, comprising of two quotes, set over the remainder in red and dark brown. A subtitle is situated a the foot of the design, in dark brown. All are set against a plain white background and...
Finish the Job - Open a Second Front Now
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943-02
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in red. The subtitle is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black and in red. All set against a white background. image: a half-length depiction...
Society of St George
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the centre, with the title separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in black Gothic script. The text is separate and positioned lower right and lower left also in black Gothic script. Further text is separate and positioned...
Study for "Gassed" Studies of a medical orderly and wounded men
(art) Made by: Sargent, John Singer (RA) 1918
image: studies of a medical orderly holding and supporting a gassed British infantryman under the right armpit. There are two almost identical depictions of the two men, with a detailed study of the orderly in close-up to the right, and a detail of his...
California House for Disabled Belgian Soldiers
(posters) Made by: Massonet, A (artist) 1916
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned across the upper quarter, in white outlined black. The text is integrated and positioned across the lower left, in white outlined black. All held within a black border and set...
Glory of God
(posters) Made by: L B
whole: the title is positioned in the upper centre, in brown. The text, in brown and in black, and the images occupy the remainder. All set against a white background. image: five photographs of First World War British and Empire memorials. Other images...
Glory of God
(posters) Made by: L B
whole: the title is positioned in the upper centre, in brown. The text, in brown and in black, and the images occupy the remainder. All set against a white background. image: five photographs of First World War British and Empire memorials. Other images...