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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MODERN FARMING: AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN, 1943
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Two agricultural workers operate their combine harvester on a sunny wheat field in Hampshire. The self-propelled harvester covers three processes in one: it cuts the corn, separates the wheat and pours it into sacks, and discharges the straw on the...
MODERN FARMING: AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN, 1943
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A 'pick-up baler' at work in a Hampshire field. The job of this machine is to follow behind the combine harvester and gather up the straw. This straw is then passed up a conveyor to a baling machine, which presses the straw into bales. One...
MODERN FARMING: AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN, 1943
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A large hay rick stands in the sun on a Hampshire farm. According to the original caption, the bales of this rick were made by the 'pick-up baler', and are of a very good size for easy handling a stacking. The straw will later be used for cattle...
MODERN FARMING: AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN, 1943
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Edward Raines, poultryman on a Hampshire farm, moves a poultry fold into line with the others in the field. Each of these chicken 'sheds' contains 25 birds. They are moved their length every day, providing fresh ground for the hens to feed on and also...
MODERN FARMING: AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN, 1943
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Agricultural workers operate a tractor-drawn 'Cutlift' machine in a clover field in Hampshire. This machine can be used to cut any green crop. Once cut, the crop passes up the conveyor and is dropped into the trailer. It can then be taken to a silo...
MODERN FARMING: AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN, 1943
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Two agricultural workers sit on a tractor-drawn trailer with the large sacks of grain they have just collected from a sunny field in Hampshire. A third worker drives the tractor which will take the grain to be weighed, dried and then ground into flour.
MODERN FARMING: AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN, 1943
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Cows are milked by machine on a farm in Hampshire. The cattle herd consists of 40 pedigree Ayrshires and Dairy Shorthorns, tended by the Neill family. The milk is drawn through tubes from the cow using a vacuum pump, and it then passes into a sealed...