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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Generale Buttafuoco
(art) Made by: Freeth, Hubert Andrew (RA) 1942
image: A head and shoulder portrait of General Buttafuoco in uniform, facing slightly away from the viewer.
Italian POW, Tobruk, 1943
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli 1943
No description available
Italian POW, Tobruk, 1943
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli 1943
No description available
Italian POWs at Carpenter's Shop, Tobruk, 1944
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli 1944
No description available
Fellow Soldier Reading in Tent, Tobruk, 1944
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli 1944
No description available
Derna
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward
image: two merchant ships are shown moored parallel to one another in a harbour, set against hills in the background. In the right foreground is a party of soldiers. Two soldiers stand near a large wooden crate, placed in the centre foreground, which is...
Benghazi: Sunken Shipping in the Harbour
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward
image: a scene in Benghazi harbour with two partly submerged ships in the water in the foreground. Another ship with only its funnels and bridge visible above the water line is in the left background. Fully afloat merchant ships are in the left and right...
Navy House, Tobruk, 1943 : the former Italian Navy HQ
(art) Made by: Janes, Norman Thomas 1943
War Artists Advisory Committee purchase
Bardia
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward
image: View across a rocky bay with the wreck of a ship lying offshore
Benghazi: View of the Cathedral from the roof of a damaged building
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward
image: View of a cathedral from a roof with a heavy, overcast sky