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

Cypriots Serving with the British Forces
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the 11 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, also in black. The coat of arms of Cyprus is located at the top edge centre....
You and the RAF Can Smash Germany
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half. The title is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in white, and held within a red panel. The text is integrated and positioned in the upper half, in black. All set against a blue background...
Battle Honours
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. Twelve smaller images are placed along the left edge, set against a light blue background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white. The text is separate and...
Our Work Will Help Decide
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image occupies the majority, with a series of smaller images positioned around the edge of the poster as a border. The title is separate and placed across the top edge, in red, set against a yellow background. The main text is separate...
Britain on the Offensive - Italian Air Losses
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941
whole: the image is positioned in the lower two-thirds. The title is separate and located along the top edge, in white, held within an orange inset. The subtitle and text are separate and located in the upper third, in black and orange. Further text is...
Back Them Up!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction a raid by British heavy bomber aircraft on a northern Italian...
Cartoonists Draw the Squander Bug
(posters) Made by: Various (artist)
whole: the images occupy the majority, partially held within grey insets. The title and text are partially integrated and positioned in the upper third, in red, in black and in white, held within a grey and white inset. Further text is separate and...
Salvage!!!
(posters) Made by: Shaw, F B 1942-04
whole: the two images are positioned in the lower three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the upper quarter and at the centre, in black. All set against a white background. image: the upper image is a full-length depiction of Adolf...
The War Told for You in Pictures
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941-10-02
whole: the 14 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and placed in the upper centre and beneath each image as a caption, also in black. All set against a white background....
Back Them Up!
(posters) Made by: Stone, Marc (artist) 1941
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a British cruiser ramming an Italian submarine. text: MARC...