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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A Member of the Pope's Swiss Guard
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry 1943
image: a half-length portrait of one of the Pope's Swiss Guard in uniform, including a helmet with a bright red plume.
Paul Wyand, War Correspondent
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry 1944
image: Head and shoulders portrait of the bespectacled Paul Wyand, who is wearing a sand coloured military shirt.
A Red-Cap on Point Duty
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry 1944
image: Two military policemen standing across the road from a church signaling to passing traffic. .
A War Correspondent Enduring the Rigours of War!
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry 1944
image:A man sitting up in a very grand bed, writing.
San Vittore
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry 1944
image: A panorama of a town on a hillside with some trees in the foreground.
Lieutenant W F Smyth : A gunner officer
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry 1944
image: a head and shoulder portrait of Lieutenant W F Smyth in uniform.
A 7.2 Gun Firing at Night
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry 1944
image: a gun crew firing a Howitzer at night from a gun emplacement hung with camouflage nets.
A 7.2 Gun in Action
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry
image: A view inside a camouflaged atillery emplacement made up of sandbags and netting draped over trees. A 7.2 Howitzer is being held in place by two soldiers on the left. On the right hand side four more crew members prepare ammunition.
Nurse Giving an Injection of Penicilin to a Wounded Man, 15th Canadian General Hospital
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry 1944
image: Uniformed nurse administering an injection into a patient, assisted by an orderly
Major Paul Triquet, VC : Of Cabano, Province of Quebec
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry 1944
image: a half-length portrait of Major Paul Triquet, shown in uniform, seated with his arms crossed.