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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Ruins, Italy
(art) Made by: Stoll, Juan
image: the ruins of a church.
Traffic Signals : Eighth Army Area, Italy 1944
(art) Made by: Seago, Edward Brian 1944
image: A telegraph pole in the centre of a roundabout in an Italian town covered in British and Commonwealth military traffic signs pointing in all directions, including one at the top of the pole which reads 'Chaos Corner'. The signs spill out onto the...
After the Fall of Naples, October 1943: Jeeps Fording a River
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1943
image: A view below a bomb-damaged bridge, across a river. Two jeeps are driving through the river and up the bank on the other side. On the bridge there are two figures examining the damage consisting of the loss of centre portion of the bridge.
Troops Halted before Gambatesa, 1943
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1943
image: A narrow road runs off into the distance in the centre of the page. Either side of the road there are groups of British soldiers resting in the shade of the trees. In th distance there is a town on a hill. A single female figure with a basket on...
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.
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.
Fellow Soldier Reading in Tent, Tobruk, 1944
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli 1944
No description available
Pinocchio di Ancona
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli
No description available
Santa Maria Della Croce, Florence
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli
No description available