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

Stad Gent - Honour to our Liberators Sept. 1944
(decorations and awards) Made by: De Cuyper, Floris 1954
piece obverse design : half-length portrait of a woman in regional medieval costume, her head turned to the left, her left arm resting on a ledge with 'Gent' inscribed on a flowered ribbon below. Her right hand is holding the town coat-of-arms (lion...
The Wrong Heart Bleeds for War
(decorations and awards) Made by: Wales, Polly 2004
whole: Part of the breastpocket of a pinstriped suit. A garnet drop hangs from a gold chain pinned to the suit with a fish hook shaped pin.
War Proliferates
(decorations and awards) Made by: Townsend, Jennifer 2004
whole: In the form of a bullet, tipped with black onyx. The bullet is topped by a bow, with the words 'WAR PROLIFERATES' etched into it repeatedly. On the back of the bow is a small brooch pin.
[Lusitania Medallion] (British copy)
(decorations and awards) 1915
First World War British copy of the German first issue 'Lusitania Medallion' by Karl Goetz. The confusing date error on the original German work was seized upon by the British and exploited for propaganda purposes, the intention being to demonstrate that...
Resolute in Action Jutland May 31 - June 1 . 1916
(decorations and awards) 1916
obverse design : Admirals Sir John Jellicoe and Sir David Beatty GCB, joint busts, in uniform. Jellicoe's full face partly obscures Beatty's right profile. Beneath the busts a laurel branch obverse text : "RESOLUTE IN ACTION" & "JUTLAND MAY 31 - JUNE...
Imperatrix.Impudens Belgrano Medallion
(decorations and awards) Made by: Sandle, Michael (artist) 1986
design: Death in the form a laureate skull, leering left profile, serpents issuing from her mouth. The skull rests upon a partially obscured sinking warship - the torpedoed Argentinian cruiser 'General Belgrano'. To left, the head and raised arm of a...