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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The Old German Front Line, Arras, 1916
(art) Made by: Sims, Charles (RA) 1919
image: A view across a battle scarred landscape in northern France. In the foreground are the remains of the old German front line, with the remains of dugouts, trenches and shell craters in the chalky soil in the foreground. In the distance are fields...
The Hidden Hand
(posters) Made by: Pearse, A (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within a black border. The title and main text are separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in white outlined black. Further text is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, also in white outlined...
Their Home - Belgium 1918
(posters) Made by: Brown, F Gregory (artist) 1918-05
whole: the image is placed centrally, with the title across the top and the subtitle across the bottom, both in dark blue. All set against a light grey background. image: a weeping mother and her two children sit with a cradle amongst the ruins of Ypres...
Deutschlands Schicksal [Germany’s Fate]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image occupies the centre and centre right, and smaller images occupy the remainder. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge, in red. The text is partially integrated and positioned across the whole, in red, blue and black...
La Chute des Dictateurs est Assuree
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title and text are separate and located in the lower fifth, in black, set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a tank battle in the desert. A British tank fires its gun as it...
Back Them Up!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title and text are separate and located in the lower fifth, in black, set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a tank battle in the desert. A British tank fires its gun as it...
A Grã-Bretanha Defensora da Liberdade
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title and text are separate and located in the lower fifth, in black, set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a tank battle in the desert. A British tank fires its gun as it...
La Gran Bretaña Defensora de la Libertad!
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title and text are separate and located in the lower fifth, in black, set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a tank battle in the desert. A British tank fires its gun as it...
[Persian text] [The Downfall of the Dictators is Assured]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title and text are separate and located in the lower fifth, in black, set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a tank battle in the desert. A British tank fires its gun as it...
[Arabic text] [The Downfall of the Dictators is Assured]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title and text are separate and located in the lower fifth, in black, set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a tank battle in the desert. A British tank fires its gun as it...