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

Convoy from Malta
(art) Made by: Hailstone, Bernard 1944
image: A view of the port of Augusta, in Sicily, with a convoy sailing through the neck of the harbour. The rural coastal landscape is visible in the foreground, with a few large buildings towards the middle of the composition. The continuing coastline...
Italians Leaving Padua on Account of the Raids, 1918
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney W 1918
image: A night scene outside the city walls of Padua. Groups of figures stand and walk along a tree-lined road, some looking back at two searchlights forming a V in the night sky above the town. A full, pale moon shines in the upper right.
Sopwith Camel Patrol Attacking an Austrian Aerodrome near Sacile, Italy
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney W 1918
image: An aerial view of three Sopwith Camels attacking an aerodrome. The planes circle above a tree-lined road to the right of the composition and disappear into the middle distance. White smoke billows from the lower left, and dense black smoke rises...
Pro Patria, 1938
(art) Made by: Armstrong, John 1938
image: A tiny, single figure in a fragmented and surreal townscape. The town consists of bomb damaged buildings with peeling wallpaper and political posters, fragments of classical sculptures and twisted trees.
The Arrival of the First Guns on the Carso Front, Italy, 1916
(art) Made by: Lipscombe, Guy 1917
image: A line of British artillery waggons travelling along an Italian road. They pass a group of Italian soldiers walking along the road; the troops wave and cheer to each other. Behind the convoy are two large badly bombed buildings, one with a tall...
On to Berlin Across our Bailey Bridges
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
Ministry of Supply No 133 Example copy with original label