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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Il Barbiere di Seviglia [The Barber of Seville]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916
whole: the text, in black, is arranged over the whole, with the production title positioned centrally. All are set over grey-blue background and held within a narrow black border. image: text only. text: THÉATRE NATIONAL DE L'OPÉRA-COMIQUE Bureaux à 1 h...
Journée Patriotique [Patriotic Day]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-07-16
whole: the title is positioned in the upper quarter, with the text occupying the remainder, both in blue. The text is divided into sections by a number of vertical and horizontal blue lines. All set against a white background. image: text only. text:...
Jeanne d'Arc [Joan of Arc]
(posters) Made by: René-Payen, C (artist) 1917-11-08
whole: the image occupies the whole, held within a narrow brown border. The title is integrated and positioned upper centre, with the text occupying the lower two-thirds, both in red and in brown. Further text is integrated and positioned across the top...
Jeanne d'Arc [Joan of Arc]
(posters) Made by: René-Payen, C (artist) 1917-11-08
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper half, in red and in brown. The text is integrated and positioned over the remainder, in brown. Further text is separate and positioned across the top, in red. A...
Conférence Inaugurale - Italia e Francia [Opening Lecture – Italy and France]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916
whole: the title is positioned upper centre and lower centre, in green. The text occupies the remainder, in green and in red. All set against a white background and held within a green border. image: text only. text: SALLE du GRAND AMPHITHÉATRE de la...