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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Flight Lieut A W Beauchamp-Proctor, VC, DSO, MC, DFC, RAF
(art) Made by: Dobson, Cowan 1920
image: A half length portrait of Beauchamp-Proctor in full uniform holding his cap in his left hand. All is set against a dark background.
The Gorge of the River Baroda, Lebanon, 1919
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney W 1919
image: a view of the head of the Wadi Baroda seen from the valley side. The opening of the gorge lies in the centre and the plain beyond, with the river running through the middle of the gorge.
Beisan, 25 February 1919
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney W 1919
image: a view of the village of Beisan, also known as Beit She'an, with its square white buildings and a road leading to the village from the lower to the mid-centre of the composition. Five figures in robes walk down the road, the nearest walking...
The Citadel Beisan, 25 February 1919
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney W 1919
image: a view of some of the remains of the Roman citadel in Beit She'an, with bare hills lying beyond.
Turkish Transport, Wadi Fara, 1919
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney W 1919
image: a sketch of a group of empty wooden farm carts, some of the abandoned transport of Turkish forces.
Bulata, 15 February 1919
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney W 1919
image: a view of the village of Bulata, which sits in the floor of a green valley in the Judean Hills, the slopes of which rise up into the background.
Wrecked Turkish Aeroplane, Jenin, 25 February 1919
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney W 1919
image: the wreck of a Turkish biplane crashed on the edge of the former Turkish aerodrome at Jenin, near Nablus, Palestine. A small building is visible in the background.
Wadi Fara, 15 February 1919
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney W 1919
image: a view of the Wadi Fara seen from the side of the valley. The Nablus-Beisan road runs along the right of the composition, with the bomb damaged remains of some Turkish transport carts.
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy GCB KBE DSO
(art) Made by: Spear, Ruskin (CBE RA) 1981
image: A head and shoulders portrait of Grandy in uniform.
Study for 'Flying Over the Desert at Sunset, Mesopotamia, 1919' (IWM ART 4623)
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney W 1919
image: a rough sketch of a bright sun blazing over a Mesopotamian landscape with an RAF biplane in flight and the Euphrates River visible below. The drawing is annotated with colour notes.